Tension as Renewed Cult War Claims 10 in Edo

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

Ten persons have been reportedly killed in a renewed cult-related war in Benin City, capital of Edo State with the latest being the four victims on Thursday at Upper Mission, Okhun and Oluku areas of  the  metropolis

It was gathered  that  a revenue collector simply identified as ‘Mopol’, was gunned down on Wednesday around Okhoro junction by new Benin.

Same day, one Miss Ibrahim Asmat Happy, a final year student of Auchi Polytechnic and another revenue collector whose name could not be ascertained were killed  in Auchi, the administrative headquarters of Etsako West Local Government Area.

The late final student of Auchi Polytechnic said to be victim of stray bullet was  said to have been shot dead in front of the institution’s campus two gate by suspected armed cultists who were reportedly after their target, the revenue collector.

Confirming the report, a lecturer, who craved for anonymity, said the area has been tensed since the incident occurred on Wednesday, adding that: “Cult -related clashes have become a common trend among young students in Auchi in attempts to outsmart one another.”

However, the Thursday incidents in Benin, according to sources, could not be unconnected with the unending supremacy battle between members of the Black Axe confraternity, Maphite and Eiye groups which has snowballed into gruesome killing of mainly youths at different areas in Benin.

It was further learnt that a popular ‘big boy’ in Benin alongside his girlfriend were shot with several bullets at a popular hotel around Aikhionbare area in GRA by suspected cultists who allegedly operated with an unregistered Sienna Space Bus.

The victims, according to report , are currently recuperating at an undisclosed hospital in the state.

Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Edo State Police Command, Chidi  Nwanbuzor, said no killings have been reported in Benin of recent, noting however, that the command is waiting for the report on Auchi killings by the Divisional Police Office (DPO) of the area.