Palpable fear has gripped parts of North Bank area of Makurdi, the Benue State capital, after rival cult groups clashed in the area killing seven persons.
Our correspondent gathered that as a result of the magnitude of the clash, the North Bank market located in the area has been forcefully closed.
Sources said the clash was between the Black axe and Red axe cult groups.
Chairman of North Bank market, Comrade Sabinus Odinaka, who narrated how the crisis started, said that one of the rival groups came to the market to access some products and some people who belong to the other group saw him and harassed him.
According to Odinaka: “He went back and told his friend and they came back to fight, that was how the whole issue started. Between that Saturday and today, Monday, February 26, 2024, six persons have been killed.”
Despite the proximity of Military Barracks to the scene of the incident, Odinaka said that that did not deter the cultists to bare their fangs within the area.
“The issue of barrack as far as we are concerned is completely useless. In fact, we do not have any Military barrack within the North Bank. Even in the C Division, we don’t have anyone. Their responses are usually very very low.”
Two Military barracks, Nigerian Army School of Military Engineering, (NASME), and Nigerian Army 72 barracks are located in the North Bank.
A leader of a vigilante group in the area, Nura Umah, who spoke to newsmen , said that six cult members lost their lives during the clash, adding that one Okada rider was also killed during the clash.
“Six cult members were killed during the clash, two from Red axe and four others from Black axe, even the cultists butchered one of their rival members and went away with the head of the victim.
“Unfortunately, one okada man ran into the clash and was killed making it seven,” he said.
Umah said that security operatives have been deployed to the area.
Benue State Police Publlic Relations Officer (PPRO),SP Catherine Anene, said that officers have been deployed to the troubled area.
She said: “Reports of cult activities in the North Bank were received and the command deployed police officers to take charge.
“Investigation is ongoing. I have no report of the number of victims,” she said.
