No fewer than four people have been killed and houses torched following a fresh cult war between rival groups in the North Bank area of ​​Makurdi, the Benue state capital.

A source said the victims were killed in different parts of the North Bank area during a violent clash between the Black Ax and Supreme Vikings gangs on Sunday and Monday.

The cult clash caused pandemonium in and around the North Bank area as residents and traders closed their shops and fled for safety.

DAILY POST gathered that fearing reprisal attacks, many of the residents have left the mayhem-affected areas.

The Chairman of the anti-cultism group in the North Bank area, Operations Shara, Alhaji Haruna Nuhu, who confirmed the incident, said the two rival cult gangs engaged in the clash around 9pm on Saturday and Sunday and continued until Monday .

According to him, the unfortunate incident led to the death of four cultists, saying that their identities are not yet known at this time.

“Since yesterday, only one person has been killed. Then last week they killed two people. In fact, one of the victims was butchered and dismembered.

“Until now, we have not seen the body of one of them, and the second person, we discovered today (Tuesday), that his head was pierced. Again, yesterday, the boys shot a person in the eye.

“So between last week and today (Tuesday), they killed four people,” Nuhu said.

Another resident of the area, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said there was a cult attack in North Bank on Sunday and early Monday morning, which led to the death of four people and the burning of houses.

He lamented that persistent cult clashes between rival groups in the state, especially in the North Bank area, had become a source of concern affecting the economic and social activities of the people.

“There was a rampage yesterday in North Bank and this afternoon, there was a house burning on Ter Guma Street in North Bank.

“I don’t know if the government wants everyone wiped out before they do anything positive. These guys have been involved in crime yesterday and today as I speak to you.

“Now they have decided to lay the young man who was killed on Sunday to rest.

“There’s a lot going on in this area that the public needs to know about. This North Bank cult boy issue is creating a lot of problems because now, whether you’re a member or not, anything can happen.

“As I speak to you now, so many people have lost their lives during this period,” the source said.

Efforts to speak with the Public Relations Officer of the Benue State Police Command, Catherine Anene, proved unsuccessful.