It was a black weekend in the North Bank area of Makurdi metropolis, the capital city of Benue State, as seven people were reportedly killed during a rival cult clash.

The cult clash that started on Saturday was said to have forced the market located around the area to close down.

An eyewitness who spoke to newsmen on Monday said that the clash was between ‘black axe and red axe cult groups.

The chairman of the North Bank market, Comrade Cibilus Odinaka, explained that the crisis started when one of the rival groups came to the market to purchase some goods and the other people saw him and harassed him.

According to him, “the suspected cultist went back and told his friend, and they came back to fight; that is how the whole issue started. Between that Saturday and today (Monday), six people have been killed.

Odinaka regretted that security operatives located within the area did not help matters as their response to distress calls was very low.

Also speaking, the leader of the vigilance group in the area, Nura Umah, told newsmen on Monday that six cult members were killed during the clash, adding that a motorcyclist was also killed during the clash.

He said, “Six cult members were killed during the clash, two from the red axe and four others from the black axe; even the cultists went away with the head of one of the victims.

“Unfortunately, one Okada man ran into the clash and was killed,” adding that security operatives have been deployed to the area.

Meanwhile, the state command spokesperson, Catherine Anene, said that officers have been deployed to the troubled area.

She said, “Reports of cult activities in North Bank were reported, and the command deployed police officers to take charge. The investigation is ongoing. I have no report of the number of victims, please.” (Nigerian Tribune)

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