Seven people have reportedly lost their lives in a cult clash at North Bank, a suburb of Makurdi, Benue State, News About Nigeria reports.
According to a source who made this known to newsmen, the clash was between Black Axe and Red Axe cult groups and was so severe to the extent that the markets located around the area had to shut down their businesses to avoid becoming victims of the clash.
The chairman of the North Bank market, Cibilus Odinaka, who also witnessed the incident, narrated how the crisis started, stating that one of the rivals came to the market to access some products, and the other people saw him and harassed him.
He stated that the harassed fellow had gone back to report to his cult group, who then came back for a fight, adding that the proximity of military barracks to the scene of the incident did not stop the cultists from attacking each other.
“He went back and told his friends and they came back to fight. That was how the whole issue started. Between that Saturday and today (Monday), six people have been killed.
“The issue of barracks as far as we are concerned, is completely useless. In fact, we do not have any military barracks within North Bank. Even the C Division, we don’t have anyone. Their response are usually very very low,” he stated.
A leader of the vigilante group in the area, Nura Umah, who spoke to journalists on Monday said that six cult members lost their lives during the clash and added that one commercial motorcyclist was 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 went away with the head of one of the victims,” he said.
