At least eight persons were reportedly killed after suspected cultists launched a deadly attack along Aliade Street in the High Level area of Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
A resident of the area, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the attack occurred in the early hours of Monday when armed men stormed the neighbourhood and opened fire on occupants of a residence.
According to the source, the attackers arrived at about 2 a.m. and targeted some young men staying in one of the compounds on the street.
“Some armed boys came into the area in the middle of the night and attacked people in one of the houses. About eight persons were killed during the attack,” the resident said.
Reacting to the incident, the Chairman of Makurdi Local Government Area, Hon. Joseph Keffi, described the killings as tragic and linked the attack to cult activities.
Keffi explained that the assailants reportedly arrived on motorcycles between 2 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. before proceeding to a particular compound where they allegedly found four persons asleep, woke them up and shot them dead.
He added that four other residents who rushed out after hearing gunshots were also killed by the attackers.
“It is unfortunate and painful. From the information available, the incident was cult-related,” Keffi stated.
The council chairman further disclosed that one of the individuals being hunted by rival cult groups had reportedly fled from the North Bank area of Makurdi and sought refuge with friends at High Level.
According to him, the victims killed were not members of any cult group but were attacked because they sheltered the suspect.
“What we heard was that a cult member who had issues with his group escaped from North Bank and hid with his friends at High Level. Sadly, those killed were innocent people who only gave him accommodation,” he said.
Keffi noted that he had informed security agencies about the development and expressed confidence that those behind the killings would be arrested.
He also revealed that residents identified one of the suspected gang leaders believed to be responsible for repeated violent attacks in Makurdi and nearby communities.
“He strikes and disappears. Anytime he returns, several people end up dead. People are worried about how he keeps escaping,” the chairman added.
The chairman commended security operatives for their swift intervention, stating that security had been reinforced in the area while investigations and manhunt for the suspects continued.
Meanwhile, the remains of the victims were reportedly deposited at the morgues of the Benue State University Teaching Hospital and another private hospital in Makurdi.
In a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, the command said detectives were immediately deployed to the scene.
According to the police spokesperson, preliminary investigations revealed that the attack was cult-related and allegedly carried out by a gang suspected to have been led by one “Odinaka,” described as notorious for such criminal activities.
The police further disclosed that 11 suspects had been arrested in connection with the incident, while efforts were ongoing to apprehend the alleged gang leader and other fleeing members of the group.
Eight reportedly killed by suspected cultists in Benue community
