No fewer than eight persons were reportedly killed in the early hours of Monday after suspected cultists invaded Aliade Street in the High Level area of Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
Residents said the attackers stormed the neighbourhood at about 2 a.m. and opened fire on occupants of a residential compound, throwing the community into panic.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the gunmen specifically targeted some young men residing in one of the houses within the area.
“Some armed boys invaded the area in the middle of the night and attacked people in one of the compounds.
About eight persons were killed during the attack,” the source said.
Reacting to the incident, the Chairman of Makurdi Local Government Area, Joseph Keffi, described the killings as unfortunate and linked the attack to cult-related violence.
According to him, the assailants arrived on motorcycles between 2 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. before proceeding to a particular residence where they allegedly found four persons asleep, woke them up and shot them dead.
Keffi added that four other residents who rushed out after hearing gunshots were also killed during the attack.
“It is unfortunate and painful. From the information available, the incident was cult-related,” he stated.
The council chairman further disclosed that a suspected cult member who had reportedly fled from the North Bank area of Makurdi sought refuge with friends in the High Level neighbourhood before the attack.
He explained that the victims allegedly lost their lives because they provided shelter to the fleeing suspect.
“What we heard was that a cult member who had issues with his group escaped from North Bank and hid with his friends at High Level.
Sadly, those killed were innocent people who only gave him accommodation,” he said.
Keffi noted that security agencies had been informed and expressed optimism that those responsible for the killings would soon be apprehended.
He also alleged that residents had identified one of the suspected gang leaders believed to be behind repeated violent attacks in Makurdi and surrounding communities.
“He strikes and disappears. Anytime he returns, several people end up dead.
People are worried about how he keeps escaping,” the chairman added.
He commended security operatives for their prompt response, adding that security presence had been strengthened in the area while investigations continued.
The remains of the victims were reportedly deposited at the morgues of the Benue State University Teaching Hospital and another private hospital in the state capital.
Meanwhile, the Benue State Police Command confirmed the incident in a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, Udeme Edet.
According to the statement, detectives were immediately deployed to the scene after the attack was reported.
The police said preliminary investigations indicated that the killings were cult-related and allegedly carried out by a gang believed to be led by a suspect identified as “Odinaka,” who was described as notorious for violent crimes.
The command further disclosed that 11 suspects had been arrested in connection with the incident, while efforts were ongoing to track down the alleged gang leader and other fleeing members of the group.