No fewer than four persons were killed in a cult-related clash in some parts of Benin City, the Edo State capital within the last three days.
THISDAY gathered that the clash was between members of two rival cults believed to be “Eiye” and Black Axe) confraternities.
The cult war was said to have started near Oba Market over issues of ticketing between members of a task forced alleged to have been engaged by the state government and another group in the same area believed to have been engaged by Oredo Local Government Area, which incidentally belong to rival cult groups.
As at the time of filing this report, eye witnesses confirmed that of the three persons, one was killed in Erunmwense area off Ekenwan Road; another by Lucky Way, Upper Mission Road; the third person hacked to death near Ogbe area; while the last was shot dead near Ogida quarters.
It was gathered that one of the dead persons just finished his Master’s degree programme from the University of Benin while a community leader from Iyowha, near the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR), has reported that six persons had been declared missing in the area.
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Moses Eguavoen (DSP), said he was expecting briefing from the DPOs in the affected areas.
In a related development, suspected hoodlums on Monday at about 7.30p.m. attacked a reporter with The Nation Newspapers in the state, Ben Ogbemudia, along Eke Street near St. Saviour, Upper Sokponba Road in Benin City.
Ogbemudia said he had packed his car along the street near his wife’s residence where he had gone to see the family before the New Year eve activities.
He said he was subsequently summoned to repack for free movement of vehicles.
According to him, he had repacked his car in the sandy street when the suspected assailants in a Nissan Primera car marked Edo: DGE 382 AA, with three of the suspects identified simply as Emwanta, Adult and Osaretin attacked him and inflicted a deep machete cuts on his upper left hand.
He was later rushed to a private clinic where the cuts were stitched while the matter has been reported at St. Saviour Police Station.
Source: Thisday
