The Benue State Police Command has confirmed the death of two individuals following a violent clash between rival cult groups in the Wadata area of Makurdi on Sunday.
Police spokesperson Catherine Anene revealed it in a statement to newsmen, saying that the ongoing crackdown on cult-related activities in the state had forced some cultists to relocate their gathering to the riverside.
She said when the cultists arrived, they encountered members of a rival group, leading to a deadly confrontation.
“Two people lost their lives in the clash, and five suspects have been arrested. Further details will be provided in due course,” Anene said.
The altercation reportedly broke out near the riverside in Wadata, where members of the cult groups had gathered for a meeting.
An eyewitness, identified as Aboh, recounted that the violence erupted on Sunday morning when a disagreement between a member of the Red Confraternity and a member of the Black Confraternity escalated into a full-blown fight. By the time the conflict subsided, two individuals had been found dead at the riverside.
The police have launched an investigation into the incident and continue efforts to curb cult-related violence in the state.