Suspected cultists have killed four people, including a soldier, in North Bank, a suburb of Makurdi, Benue State.
The incident occurred on Friday night, November 15, 2024, amid rising clashes between rival cult groups in the area over the past few weeks.
According to eyewitnesses, two of the victims killed on Friday night were not cultists but bystanders caught in the rampage.
Nura Umar, Chairman of the vigilante group Operation Shara in North Bank, confirmed the incident, stating that the four victims, including the soldier, were killed in separate attacks on Thursday and Friday night.
“These cultists caused havoc last night (Friday) around 10-11 p.m. A soldier and two young boys were killed,” Umar said. “The incident happened near the BIPC area. Those boys were not cultists; they were shot by suspected cultists.
“Additionally, on Thursday, a suspected cultist was killed while sleeping in his house,” he added.
Catherine Anene, the spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, confirmed cult-related activities in North Bank but reported only one civilian death. She also noted that additional security personnel had been deployed to the area.
“Yes, there were cult activities in North Bank, but I can confirm one civilian was killed. Operatives have been deployed to the area,” she stated.
