Residents of Wadata and Iniongun communities in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, are living in fear following a series of violent clashes between rival cult groups that have claimed three lives, left several people injured, and resulted in significant property destruction.
The most recent incident occurred around 9 pm on Tuesday in the Iniongun area, where a well-armed cult group launched a coordinated attack targeting houses believed to be sheltering leaders of a rival cult faction. Multiple homes were set ablaze during the assault.
According to eyewitnesses, the attackers carried out simultaneous assaults on multiple locations. Tragically, the houses that were torched did not belong to the alleged cult leaders but to innocent landlords and tenants who had unknowingly rented their properties to individuals now being hunted.
Origins of the Violence
The violent confrontations reportedly began during a wake-keep ceremony for a retired ex-army officer identified as Odoba Edoh in Wadata. During this event, gunmen suspected to be members of a cult group opened fire, killing three members of a rival group and injuring another who is currently receiving treatment at a Makurdi hospital.
This initial attack triggered a series of reprisals. On Tuesday morning, two suspected cult members linked to the wake-keep shooting were attacked with machetes near the Rice Mill area of Wadata. Though severely injured, they managed to escape with life-threatening wounds.
The escalating violence has created an atmosphere of tension and uncertainty in the affected communities, with residents concerned about further retaliatory attacks.
Local authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding the measures being taken to address the situation and restore peace to the troubled areas.
Stay connected with BenriNews for updates on this developing story.
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