From Attah Ede, Makurdi

A cult clash between two rival cult gangs has reportedly claimed four lives and many houses set ablaze in the North Bank area of Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

Our Correspondent gathered that the crisis between the two cult groups (Red and Black) which has been brewing in the last few days got to head on Sunday  and Monday when the two gangs were involved in a gun fight.

The gunfight caused heavy pandemonium in and around the North Bank area, with residents scampering for safety.

It was further gathered that the clash has caused panic over fears of reprisal attack, which has made many residents desert the affected area.

The chairman of anti-cultism group in North Bank area called Operations Shara, Alhaji Haruna Nuhu, who confirmed the development, told our correspondent on phone that the two rival cult gangs engaged in the clash at about 9pm on Saturday, Sunday and continued till Monday and escalated to this morning.

According to him, the unfortunate incident led to the death of four cultists, saying that their identities are yet to be known at the moment.

“As of yesterday, only one person was killed. Then, last week, they killed two people. In fact, one of the victims was badly butchered and body piece.

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

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

Another resident of the area, who spoke to our correspondent on phone in Makurdi on Tuesday on condition of anonymity, said there was a cult rampage in the North Bank on Sunday and Monday morning which resulted in the death of four persons and burning of houses.

He lamented that persistent cult clashes between rival groups in the State, particularly in the north bank area, has become a source of worry that has affected economic and social activities of the people.

“There was a rampage yesterday in North bank and this afternoon again, there was a house burning at Ter Guma Street in North bank.

“I don’t know whether the government wants everybody to be wiped away before they will do something positively. These our boys engaged in killings yesterday and today up till now that I am talking to you.

“It is now that they decided to go and laid to rest the young man that was killed on Sunday.

“A lot of things are going on in this area that the public need to know. This issue of cult boys in the North bank is causing a lot of problems because now, whether you are a member or not, anything can happen.

“As I am talking to you now, so many people have lost their lives within this period of time,” the source said.

Efforts to speak with the Benue State command police public relations officer, Catherine Anene prove abortive as she could not respond to text messages sent to her cell phone or return to calls as at the time of filing this report.