By Babatunde Solanke
A market located in North Bank, a suburb of Makurdi, Benue State was forced to close for business after seven people were reportedly killed in a rival cult clash between Black Axe and Red Axe cult groups.
An eyewitness, Cibilus Odinaka, who is the chairman of North Bank market, made this disclosure while narrating how the crisis started.
According Odinaka, one of the rivals came to the market to access some product and the other people saw him and harassed him.
“He went back and told his friends and they came back to fight. That was how the whole issue started. Between that Saturday and today (Monday), six persons have been killed,” the market chairman said.
Odinaka added that despite the proximity of military barracks to the scene of the incident, Odinaka said that this did not stop the cultists.
“The issue of barracks as far as we are concerned, is completely useless. In fact, we do not have any military barracks within North Bank. Even the C Division, we don’t have anyone. Their response are usually very very low.”
The two military barracks, the Nigerian Army School of Military Engineering and Nigerian Army 72 Barracks are located in North Bank.
A leader of vigilance group in the area, Nura Umah, who spoke to newsmen on Monday, 26 February, 2024, said that six cult members lost their lives during the clash and added that one commercial motorcyclist was killed during the clash.
“Six cult members were killed during the clash, two from Red Axe and four others from 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, he said just as he also added that security operatives have been deployed to the area.
Meanwhile, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene, confirmed the development and said that officers have been deployed to the troubled area.
“Report of cult activities in North Bank were reported and the command deployed police officers to take charge. Investigation is ongoing. I have no report of number of victims, please,” Anene said.