Two killed as rival cult groups clash in Benue

Two people lost their lives on Wednesday following a violent confrontation between rival cult groups in Jato Aka, within Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State.

Confirming the incident in Makurdi on Thursday, the spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, DSP Udeme Edet, explained that the deadly clash involved members of the Red and Black cult groups.

Reports indicated that several individuals from both sides sustained multiple injuries before security operatives restored calm in the area.

She stated, “On Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at about 10:30 hours, operatives attached to Jato-Aka Division responded to a violent clash between rival cult groups known as Red and Black.

“The clash resulted in the death of two male persons, while other victims sustained varying degrees of injuries and were taken to nearby medical facilities for treatment.”

According to Edet, police operatives apprehended eight suspects linked to the incident.

Those arrested were identified as Mvaater Adebo (M), Pineter Akurayati (M), Daniel Ese (M), Samuel Kwaghzer (M), Isaac Iorapul (M), Terungwa Tertese (M), Aondonenge Aper (M), and Ternenge Aondokura (M).

Edet further disclosed that in a separate operation on Wednesday, police officers engaged suspected kidnappers in a shootout while responding to an attempted abduction of a hotelier in Zaki Biam, Ukum LGA.

She narrated, “Acting swiftly on the information, a patrol team attached to Ukum Division was immediately deployed to the location. Upon sighting the police operatives, the bandits opened fire.

“The patrol team responded with superior firepower, during which one of the bandits sustained fatal gunshot injuries.

“The injured bandit was rushed to the General Hospital, Zaki Biam, where he was confirmed dead by the attending medical doctor.

The deceased was later identified as Terkaa Samuel (M), a notorious bandit from Jandekyula, Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State.”

Items recovered from the two operations, according to the PPRO, included a locally made pistol, an expended cartridge, two axes, two machetes, a locally fabricated Beretta pistol, two live 9mm rounds, and a bag containing charms.

Edet also mentioned that efforts were underway to track down additional suspects who fled during the cult clash, adding that more patrol and tactical units had been deployed to comb nearby communities for bandits believed to have escaped with gunshot wounds.

The Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, assured residents that the command remained fully committed to ensuring public safety and protecting lives and property.

He urged citizens to provide credible and timely information to aid ongoing security operations.

The Police Command noted that its renewed crackdown on cultism had intensified in recent days, including last week’s arrest of four suspected cult members in Gboko, where another clash resulted in two fatalities.