Renewed cult war among three rival cult groups; machines, Black axe (aka Aye), and Eiye confraternities, has allegedly led to the killing of eight persons in different parts of Benin City, Edo State.
In a swift reaction, the Police confirmed only two death.
The renewed killings started last Friday when a 200 level student of the University of Benin, Moses Adesina, popularly called Aficionado, was shot dead during students’ jeans carnival.
It was gathered that few minutes after Aficionado was buried on Wednesday, two persons were reportedly attacked on Wire Road and Siluko Road.
The Wire Road victim, Osasuyi (aka 190), was said to have died, while the one in Siluko Road, Moses Oboh, was severely injured.
It was also gathered that a day after the killing of Aficionado, which was a Saturday, one person was killed around the Isihor area of Benin City and in the evening of the same day, another person was reportedly killed around Osasogie area of Ugbowo.
Sources said another person was reportedly killed on Sunday night around the Adolor area of Ugbowo, just as another person was killed in Uwasota, and on Wednesday night, two persons were reportedly killed in Gani Fawehinmi layout, Isinoro, near New Benin.
But in his reaction yesterday, Edo State police public relations officer, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor, said only two persons were killed and one arrest made.
“The situation at the University of Benin, it was reported that one person was killed as a result of cult-related activities that are as a result of a cut fight than about yesterday (Wednesday) Oba market police reported the killing of a young man.
“The operatives went into these two places, they evacuated the bodies. That of Siluko road, one person was arrested and the person who was arrested as having evidence of being part of the fight, he was given a severe injury on the two knees. His name is Moses Oboh aged 20 years.
“This are the information available. The command is aware. Commissioner of Police Edo State, CP Danmallam Muhammed, has actually sent out operatives, then the tactical teams are also out to ensure that this menace is stopped. We hope that the general public should equally assist us in giving us information as regards these activities of cultists”, he said.
