At least two people have been confirmed dead, and several others injured following a violent clash between rival cult groups in the Wadata area of Makurdi, Benue State, on Sunday.
The confrontation, which reportedly started at the riverside, involved members of opposing cult factions who had gathered for a meeting.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, Catherine Anene, said the clash was linked to ongoing police efforts to curb cult-related activities in the state.
“Due to the police crackdown on cultism in the state, some cultists traveled to the riverside to hold a meeting. On getting there, they encountered a rival cult group, which led to a clash in which two people lost their lives,” she stated.
She further disclosed that five suspects had been arrested, adding that more details would be provided as investigations continue.
However, eyewitness accounts suggested that the death toll could be higher, with some reports indicating that four people were killed and many others sustained injuries from gunshots and machete attacks.
An eyewitness, Aboh, claimed the violence began after a heated argument between members of the Red and Black Confraternities escalated into a deadly fight.
“The clash started on Sunday morning after a member of the Red Confraternity got into a heated argument with a member of the Black Confraternity. It quickly turned violent, and by the time it ended, two people were dead at the riverside,” he recounted.
According to Aboh, the violence did not end there. Later that evening, in what appeared to be a retaliatory attack, another person and his neighbor, identified as Emeka, were allegedly killed near the Wadata Police Barracks.
“Yesterday evening, we were attending a meeting at the police barracks in Wadata when some cult boys traced Emeka to the venue, attacked, and killed him. They then went to the rice mill and killed another person,” he revealed.
“The victims were my friends. I was even calling one of them on the phone to come and see what was happening, only to hear that he was among those killed,” Aboh added.
