Cult Clashes Leave Three Dead And Homes In Flames In Makurdi: Residents Gripped By Fear
A wave of cult-related violence has erupted in Makurdi, the capital of Benue State, leaving at least three individuals dead, several others critically injured, and multiple homes reduced to ashes. The escalating crisis, involving rival cult factions, has spread panic across the Wadata and Iniongun communities, where residents now live in fear of further attacks.
The most recent incident unfolded late Tuesday night, around 9:00 p.m., in the densely populated Iniongun area. According to local eyewitnesses, a heavily armed group of cultists launched a coordinated assault, systematically targeting residential buildings suspected of harboring leaders of a rival cult group. In a matter of hours, several homes were engulfed in flames, displacing numerous families and destroying properties worth millions of naira.
Tragically, it has since been confirmed that the homes attacked were not, in fact, occupied by the intended targets. Innocent landlords and tenants—some of whom had unknowingly rented rooms to persons now on the run—suffered the consequences of the retaliatory onslaught. “We heard gunshots and people shouting,” one resident recounted. “When we came out, we saw fire spreading from one house to another. It was terrifying.”
The violence appears to be rooted in an earlier confrontation that took place in the Wadata district. On the night of a wake-keep ceremony for a retired army officer, identified as Odoba Edoh, suspected cult members opened fire during the event. Three individuals believed to be part of a rival group were killed instantly, while another sustained critical injuries and is currently receiving medical care at an undisclosed hospital in Makurdi.
What began as a targeted shooting quickly spiraled into a cycle of revenge. In the early hours of Tuesday, just before the Iniongun arson attacks, two suspected cult members linked to the wake-keep killings were ambushed and severely macheted near the Rice Mill area of Wadata. Though they survived, they reportedly suffered life-threatening injuries.
Security forces have since been deployed to both affected communities, but the situation remains tense. Authorities are working to calm the fears of residents, many of whom have begun relocating to safer neighborhoods amid concerns that the violence may spread further.
While the Benue State Police Command has yet to release an official statement as of press time, community leaders are urging the government to take swift and decisive action to prevent further bloodshed. “We cannot allow our communities to be overrun by criminal elements,” said one elder from the Iniongun area. “The government must intervene before more lives are lost.”
The cult clashes in Makurdi underscore the growing insecurity faced by urban and semi-urban communities across Nigeria. Experts warn that without proactive policing, youth engagement initiatives, and sustained intelligence gathering, cultism will continue to pose a serious threat to peace and social stability.
Residents are also being advised to remain vigilant and report any suspicious movements to law enforcement agencies. As the dust settles from the latest wave of violence, many families are left to grieve their loved ones, rebuild their homes, and navigate a community now shadowed by fear and uncertainty.
