No fewer than three persons have lost their lives following a violent confrontation between suspected rival cult groups in Agwan Jukun, a suburb of Makurdi, Benue State.
The clash, which reportedly began on Sunday night and stretched into the early hours of Monday, threw the community into panic, forcing residents to abandon their homes while business activities came to a halt.
Eyewitness accounts revealed that the attackers stormed the area around 8 p.m., allegedly moving with clear intent and targeting specific individuals.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the assailants appeared to have prior knowledge of their victims.
According to the source, the operation did not seem random, as the attackers went straight for particular persons upon arrival.
The killings were said to have occurred along Market Street and Wukari Street, with some locals suspecting that the perpetrators may have relied on insider information to identify their targets.
Another resident noted that the attackers were likely aided by informants within the community, suggesting that although they might not be locals, they operated with precise guidance.
As of Monday, tension remained palpable, especially around the market area near a mosque, with fears of further violence keeping many residents on edge.
Several shops remained shut, while many families reportedly relocated to safer areas.
Fresh concerns also emerged on Tuesday, as some residents claimed that groups of youths were sighted carrying weapons openly, raising fears of a possible reprisal attack.
Efforts to get an official reaction from the police proved abortive, as the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Udeme Edet, had yet to respond to enquiries as of the time of filing this report.