No fewer than three persons have been killed following a clash between suspected rival cult groups in Agwan Jukun, a suburb of Makurdi in Benue State.
The violence, which residents said began on Sunday night and continued into the early hours of Monday, sparked widespread panic, forcing many people to flee their homes while commercial activities were abruptly halted.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers stormed the area at about 8 p.m., moving with apparent precision and targeting specific individuals.
“They arrived and went straight for certain people. It didn’t look random at all, they knew exactly who they were after,” a resident, who requested anonymity, said.
The killings were said to have occurred along Market Street and Wukari Street. Some residents believe the assailants may have relied on local informants to track their targets.
“The operation suggested they had insider information. It didn’t seem like they were from around here, but they clearly had help,” another source said.
As of Monday, tension remained high, especially around the market area near a mosque, with fears of further attacks lingering among residents.
“Many people have left the area, and shops are still closed. There’s a lot of fear,” another resident noted.
On Tuesday, some locals reported fresh concerns over a possible reprisal attack, claiming that groups of youths were seen openly carrying weapons in parts of the community.
Efforts to obtain a response from the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, were unsuccessful, as she had yet to respond to inquiries or issue an update on the incident as of the time of filing this report.
