At least three people lost their lives in recent violent clashes between rival cult groups in North Bank, a suburb of Makurdi, the Benue State capital. The clashes, involving the Black and Red cult groups, erupted over the weekend and continued into Monday night, leaving residents fearful and authorities concerned about the growing violence in the area.
Local sources reported that the violence began last weekend when two young men, allegedly members of opposing cult groups, were killed.
A source in the area, who asked to remain anonymous due to safety concerns, revealed, “Two people were killed in the clashes over the weekend. One of the bodies was taken away, and another was found with severe injuries.”
The violence did not end there. On Monday evening, another clash erupted between the groups, resulting in a third fatality.
Nura Umar, chairman of the local vigilante group Operation Shara, confirmed the tragic incident, saying, “One person was killed yesterday during a clash between Black and Red cult groups around 9 p.m.”
He added that his team had to step in to help control the situation.
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Umar also recounted the unsettling details of the earlier incident, explaining that after the weekend violence, they had to organize the burial of one of the deceased.
“One of the deceased’s bodies was taken away, and another one’s head was smashed. We have buried him,” he said somberly.
Local residents are increasingly alarmed by the escalation in cult violence in North Bank, as the frequent clashes threaten the community’s safety and stability. While local vigilante groups like Operation Shara work to keep the peace, they face significant challenges in curbing the spread of cult activities in the area.
When reached for comment, Catherine Anene, spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, stated that she was not aware of the incidents.
“I am not aware of the incidents,” she briefly responded, providing no additional details on the matter.