CRIME: SUSPECTED CULTISTS KILL SOLDIER, THREE OTHERS IN BENUE

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Four people, including a soldier, were reportedly killed by suspected cultists at North Bank, a suburb of Makurdi, the capital city of Benue State, Friday night.

Clashes among rival cult members have been on the increase around the North Bank area in the past few weeks.

Eyewitness accounts disclosed that those killed on Friday night (the two young men) were not cultists but victims of cultists who were on the rampage.

Confirming the incident, 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.

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

“It happened around the BIPC. Those boys (deceased) 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 state police command, Catherine Anene, confirmed cult activities at North Bank but said that only one civilian was killed.

She stated that more men had been deployed in the area.

She 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.”