Bloodbath In Benin: Cult War Claims Five Lives In Renewed Supremacy Clash

NO fewer than five persons have reportedly been killed between Monday and Tuesday in the Benin metropolis of Edo State, following a renewed supremacy war between suspected members of the Maphite and Black Axe cult groups.

It was learnt that the victims were killed at different locations within the city centre.

Residents who spoke to Nigerian Tribune Metro during visits to the scenes of the attacks identified the victims as Lucky Okotie, Yoyin, George, Lucky, and Abel.

One of the victims, George, a mechanic, was reportedly killed in front of his workshop along Oza Street, off Sakponba Road, on Monday evening.

Yoyin was said to have been shot dead around Oroghene Street, off Siluko Road, the same Monday evening, by suspected rival cult members.

Another victim was said to have been gruesomely murdered around Wire Road at about 7:30 p.m., while yet another was killed on Tuesday afternoon around Ewah Road.

A witness, Ibrahim, said Lucky was killed inside his home, in the presence of his family, when the hoodlums stormed his residence at 3rd East Circular Road around 6 p.m. on Monday.

Another witness, who declined to be named, said Lucky Okotie was shot dead around the 2nd West area in Benin last weekend after stepping out of his house to buy roasted corn.

She explained that the victim died after running out of oxygen when the vehicle conveying him to the hospital ran into a traffic gridlock.

The fifth victim, whose name could not be immediately ascertained at press time, was reportedly killed in broad daylight on Monday around Textile Mill Road in Benin.

Recall that the suspected cult killings, which resumed penultimate week in Edo, come after about two months of ceasefire following decisive action taken by the governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, against cultists in the state.

Nigerian Tribune had last week reported that a suspected cult killing victim, identified as Emmanuel Adekhe, popularly called “Biggy”, was shot dead by unknown gunmen on Wednesday morning in Benin.

Apparently, in a reprisal attack, three people were killed near a popular brothel along Wire Road on Thursday night by a rival cult group.

However, the recent surge in cult-related violence in Edo State appears to be a bold challenge to the government’s stance against cultism, with some individuals and groups seemingly defying the state’s efforts to curb such activities.

This defiance follows the Edo State Government’s crackdown, which included demolishing buildings used as cultists’ hideouts and vowing to prosecute perpetrators and their enablers in court.

The government has also reiterated its commitment to protecting residents from cult-related intimidation and violence.

Despite these measures, some individuals and groups appear undeterred, suggesting a potential escalation in the conflict between the government and cult groups in Edo State.

The situation is further complicated by the government’s ongoing campaign against cultism, which includes urging citizens to report suspicious activities and encouraging community participation in the fight.

The government has also stressed that it will not be intimidated by any group or individual attempting to undermine its efforts.

Its firm stance is underscored by the demolition of buildings associated with criminal activity, signalling its resolve to eliminate such hideouts.

Nonetheless, the continued defiance of some groups poses not only a challenge to governmental authority but also a serious threat to the social fabric of Edo State, as cultism erodes public trust and fosters violence.

The situation calls for a multi-pronged approach involving law enforcement, community engagement, social reintegration programmes, and a deliberate effort to address the root causes of cultism.

As of press time, the Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, Moses Yamu, had not responded to calls or messages sent to his phone.

However, a senior police officer who requested anonymity disclosed that the security outfit is currently on the trail of those involved in the cult clashes and is working to bring them to justice.