There is no end in sight over the cult killings in Benin City, the Edo State Capital as a young man narrowly escaped from being hacked down by suspected cultists in 2nd East circular area in Benin on Tuesday evening.
The battle for supremacy between suspected members of the Black Axe Confraternity and their rival Supreme Eiye Confraternity which reportedly started December 21, 2023, has claimed over 30 lives in Benin as at press time.
It was gathered that cult killings were triggered by the brutal killing of a member of the Eiye Confraternity, simply identified as 'Lagbaja', whose head was severed on December 22, 2023.
The development, according to sources led to the reprisal attack on members of the Black Axe Confraternity, whose three members were gunned down at Imagbenikaro Street, Off Siluko Road in Benin, by suspected Eiye members on December 24, 2023.
The victims, Efosa Osawaru, 'Culture: a Russia-based tattooist and 'IK Glo', alongside other of their members who reportedly escaped with various bullet wounds, were said to have been having merriment at a certain house at Imagbenikaro, when their assailants alleged to have disguised as police officers with Ak 47 raffles struck.
The development further triggered the killings of another eight suspected cultists, including a twin-brothers allegedly belonging to the Eiye Confraternity around Ogida, Textile Mill and Uselu environs in the state capital on the same Sunday 24, 2023 night.
At 2nd East circular area in Benin the same Christmas rve, a popular Broadcaster with the Benin City based Radio and Broadcast Stations, Independent Radio and Television, Hilary Odia (Chameleon) and Vigilante Commander in Ogiso community, Oredo local government area, were killed in similar circumstances on the Christmas eve.
This is after some viral voice notes were the Black Axe Confraternity members and Supreme Eiye Confraternity members have vowed to avenge the killing of their members and declared unending war on each other.
Apparently as a result of the war declaration, tension was heightened on New Year Eve at Ekosodin Community in Ovia North East Local Government Area of the state, following the killing of one of the Edo State Security Network (ESSN) Commanders, one Osagie, alleged to be member of the Eiye.
It was gathered that Osagie's death created tension in the area as the security network and elders in the community banned the December 31 crossover night service in the area.
Five more persons were killed at Oluku, a sub urban area in Edo, three persons at 2nd East circular and four other persons at Ogida on New Year Eve, making the eve a bloody one for Benin residents.
Okhoro and Uwelu areas in Benin were not left out of the cult killings as one person each was killed in the areas on December 31, 2023 night.
Dead bodies were said to have been picked up by police operatives at Okhoro, Medical Stores, Uwelu, Ogida and Textile Mill Divisions.
In a related development, a middle-aged woman was killed at Ogiso area in Benin on December 16, after suspected cultists launched a manhunt for the deceased's son, their alleged target, over reported confiscation of proceeds from an organised crime (Internet scam), also known as 'Yahoo Yahoo'.
They (hoodlums) were said to have stormed the deceased woman residence in Ogiso quarters, in search of the target, her son.
It was gathered that the armed cultists became visibly angry as they could not find their target and reportedly shot the target's mother before fleeing the scene.
The development was said to have led to reprisal attacks in the area, leaving four persons dead almost immediately on the same day.
Confirming the report, the Edo State Police Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP. Chidi Nwabuzor, said"A sizablele number of arrests of the secret cult members have been made."
He quoted the state Commissioner of Police, as saying: "The Command is sincerely and vigorously fighting this crime and wishes to put it to an end for the State to be peaceful for all."
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