Residents of Makurdi thrown into mourning after suspected cultists allegedly invaded Aliade Street and killed eight persons.

From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi

Not fewer than eight persons have reportedly been killed in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, after suspected cultists allegedly went on a killing spree on Monday.

The Chairman of Makurdi Local Government Area (LGA), Joseph Keffi, who confirmed the incident to newsmen on phone, disclosed that the attack occurred between 2:00 am and 2:30 am on Aliade Street in Makurdi town.
Keffi condemned the incident, describing it as ugly and pathetic.
According to the Makurdi chairman, reports available to him indicated that some young men arrived on motorbikes, entered a particular compound where four persons were sleeping, called them out and shot them dead.
He explained that four other persons who heard the gunshots and came outside were also killed.
He said, “It is quite ugly and pathetic. The incident happened at about 2am, 2:30am and it was cult related. What I heard is that a cult member from North Bank had a clash with his mates and ran down to stay with his friend in High Level.
“His friends and relatives who were killed were not cult members, but because they accommodated the boy, they killed them.
“I have reported the incident to all the security agencies and they assured me that they would apprehend all the perpetrators. They mentioned someone Odinaka who has been terrorizing the state, particularly Makurdi.
“He comes in, strikes and leaves. Right now, he is not in the state. The day he comes again, he will kill not less than 10 persons and leave. We do not know how he escapes.
“This is someone who was once apprehended by the Police and released. We just hope that the Police will do due diligence and get him arrested.”
While noting that security is everyone’s responsibility, the chairman stated that he had continued to work closely with security agencies to tackle insecurity in the area.
“I was promptly on ground when it happened. I quickly called some security agencies and they responded swiftly by laying ambush to apprehend the perpetrators. The entire area was cordoned off, unfortunately we could not arrest them.
“This issue of insecurity is what we have communicated to every locality in Makurdi. That is why if you go round the local government, you will see vigilante groups and Civil Protection Guards deployed in every street, especially in cult-prone areas,” he said.
Keffi further disclosed that the corpses of the deceased had been deposited at the Benue State Teaching Hospital and Madonna Hospital.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Benue State Command, DSP Udeme Edet, also confirmed the incident but stated that six persons were killed. She added that further details would be made available in a press statement soon.