The North Bank community in Makurdi, Benue State, has been rocked by a wave of violence, resulting in the death of at least seven individuals. The fatalities occurred over the weekend, as rival cult groups, known locally as "black" and "red", engaged in a deadly power struggle.
The violent clashes disrupted normal life in the area, with the major market in North Bank remaining closed for trading and other activities on Friday and Saturday. Some residents have suggested that the death toll could be higher, as they believe more lives were lost in the past six days. Disturbingly, two of the deceased were reportedly beheaded.
Nura Umar, the commander of a local vigilante group known as Operation Shara (Sweep), confirmed that seven people had been killed between Sunday and the early hours of Monday. He recounted how one person was initially injured by a member of one of the cult groups. Despite being taken to a hospital, the injured individual, a commercial motorcyclist, succumbed to his injuries on Sunday morning. This incident sparked a series of retaliatory attacks, leading to further killings.
Comrade Cibilus Odinaka, the North Bank Market Chairman, expressed concern over the ongoing cult activities, which have severely impacted the operations of the market. He called for a military presence to ensure the safety of traders and appealed for security provisions from market leaders.
The Police Spokesperson for Benue Command, SP Catherine Anene, confirmed reports of cult activities in North Bank. She stated that the command had deployed police officers to maintain order and that an investigation was underway. However, she did not provide details on the number of fatalities.