BY EBEN ENASCO KINGSLEY, BENIN
Several youths have been killed in a renewed cult fracas that engulfed Benin City, four days ago.
The Spokesman, Edo Police Command DSP Stephen Onwochei said that the command has made several arrests and recovered weapons from the warring cult groups.
DSP Onwocha stated further that the police are doing everything to stop the killings.
“We are doing everything to stem the tide of killing and ensure safety of lives and property”. He maintained.
The latest vitims were shot dead at victory street and new Lagos road, by new Benin area, yesterday morning.
He was shot on his head inside his barbing saloon.
Eyewitness said three men walked into thee saloon and opened fire on him.
The barber identified as Patrick was decribed as jovial and dedicated to his job.
It was also learnt that the rampaging youths had hacked down some of their victims while others were shot dead as few who have graciously survived the attacks are receiving medical attention at different hospitals in Benin.
Two unconfirm versions of stories have been given as reasons for the on-going crisis.
The first version alleged that it was an unequare formula used in sharing the money given to some cult groups by a politcal party to help prosecute the recent general elections in Edo State.
Another version maintained that the fight is purely that of supremacy and vengence as a quarrel that ensued between two members of different cult groups at a viewing centre, led to the killing of one of them, a day after.
It was further gathered that the death of the boy identified simply as Winger, angered his friends who swiftly mobilized their hitmen and commenced a vengance manhunt for their rivals.
It will be recalled that cult-related killing is a recurrence incidence in Benin City.
Meanwhile, residence of the City have expressed fear over possible spill over of the crisis to nearby campuses and university communities in the state.
The called on security agents and other relevance bodies in the state to intervene with a view to resolving the fracas.
