April 28, (THEWILL) – Suspected cultists stormed a beer parlour in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, on Sunday night, killing no fewer than seven people who were relaxing at the spot.
The attack comes just as the new Commissioner of Police, CP Emenari Ifeanyi, assumed duty at the Benue State Command on Monday.
An eyewitness recounted that he boarded a Keke tricycle between 7 and 8 p.m. at Wurukum Roundabout and, as they neared OxNet Water Factory on Akpehe Road, they heard gunshots nearby.
“People started running helter-skelter. We shouted at the driver to speed up. As we were fleeing, the driver pointed at one of the fleeing men and said, ‘See blood at his back!'” the eyewitness said.
According to him, the man, who was dressed in red boxer shorts and a white T-shirt, branched off into a side street while their Keke sped towards Iorhom, heading to the International Market.
It was also gathered that earlier, the chairman of the Wurukum Market Task Force was killed under suspicious circumstances by unknown assailants.
Another eyewitness said he saw a police Hilux vehicle evacuating four bodies by the roadside while riding past on a motorcycle.
Reacting to the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer for Benue State Command, ACP Sewuese Anene, confirmed that a suspected cult attack occurred at Akpehe, resulting in the death of four people, with several others receiving treatment in the hospital.
Anene, quoting CP Ifeanyi, said investigations are ongoing to uncover those behind the attack. She added that the Commissioner has warned criminal elements to desist, stressing that he would not tolerate crime under his watch.
