Five persons, including a pharmacist, have been hacked to death, following a violent clash of two rival cult groups in Ugbokolo town, Okpokwu Local Government Area (L.G.A.) of Benue State.

Eyewitnesses told our reporter that four of the victims were killed by the suspected cultists at night on Monday, February 24th, 2020, while the pharmacist, pictured above, was hacked to death at his shop in the afternoon on Tuesday, February 25th, 2020.

According to reports reaching Flavision, the entire rural town where Benue State Polytechnic is located, has been under siege for the past three days, since rival cultists went on rampage.

One of the town’s resident, Samuel Oko, said streets were deserted, while commercial activities had been grounded in the past seventy two (72) hours, for fear of the rampaging cultists. Oko said residents of the once bustling town had remained indoors.

Chairman of Okpokwu Local Government Area (L.G.A.), Mrs. Amina Audu, confirmed the incident to newsmen in Makurdi by telephone. She added that the issue had been reported to the police and other security agencies in the state for necessary action to be taken.

Confirming the incident, the Benue State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Catherine Anene, said that four persons were killed on Monday night following a rival cultists’ clash. She added that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Ugbokolo have requested for help to bring back orderliness to the community.

Justin Nwosu

Justin Nwosu is the founder and publisher of Flavision. His core interest is in writing unbiased news about Nigeria in particular and Africa in general. He’s a strong adherent of investigative journalism, with a bent on exposing corruption, abuse of power and societal ills.