Soldiers, four others reportedly killed by suspected cultists in Benue

Gunmen suspected to be cultists have reportedly killed a soldier and four people at North Bank, a suburb of Makurdi, the capital city of Benue State.

This dastardly act occurred on Friday night.

In the past few weeks the North Bank area of Makurdi has been embroiled in rival cult clashes that has claimed several lives and properties.

Eyewitness accounts disclosed that two yet-to-be-identified young men killed on Friday night were not members of any confraternity but victims of rampaging cultists.

The chairman of the vigilante group known as Operation Shara in the North Bank, Nura Umar, said that four people, including a soldier, were killed in separate attacks on Thursday and Friday night.

He said: “These cultists wreaked havoc yesterday night (Friday) around 10 pm to 11 pm; a soldier and two boys were killed.

“It happened around the BIPC. Those boys who were killed were not cultists. Those who shot them were suspected to be cultists.

“Then, a day before yesterday (Thursday), one person (a suspected cultist) who was sleeping in his house was killed.”

When contacted, the spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, Catherine Anene, confirmed cult activities at North Bank.

Anene said: “Yes, there were cult activities in North Bank, but I am aware of one person killed, a young civilian. Operatives have been deployed in the area.”