By Ranti Thomas
Residents of Makurdi were thrown into panic after suspected cultists reportedly carried out a deadly overnight attack that left at least eight people dead in Benue State.
The violence occurred around Aliade Street in the early hours of Monday when armed men stormed a residential area and opened fire on victims inside a compound.
According to local accounts, the attackers arrived on motorcycles between 2am and 2:30am before targeting people believed to have links with a rival cult member hiding in the area.
Officials said four people were first dragged out and shot, while others who rushed outside after hearing gunshots were also killed during the chaos.
Makurdi Local Government Chairman Joseph Keffi described the killings as cult-related, explaining that some of those killed were innocent residents who allegedly gave shelter to a young man connected to a rival group.
He also revealed that security agencies had already identified one of the suspected gang leaders believed to be behind several violent attacks across Makurdi and surrounding areas.
The incident has deepened fears over rising cult violence in Benue, especially after similar clashes earlier this year led to multiple deaths in Makurdi, Gboko, Otukpo, and Kwande communities.
Residents around the affected area reportedly fled in fear as security operatives moved in and cordoned off the neighbourhood following the shootings.
Police authorities confirmed the incident but stated that the casualty figure in their records was lower than the reported eight deaths, adding that investigations are ongoing.
The bodies of the victims were later evacuated to hospitals in Makurdi while security agencies launched a manhunt for the attackers.
As tension continues to spread across the state, many residents are now calling for urgent action to stop the growing wave of cult violence before more communities are thrown into mourning.