Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
Three persons were reportedly killed between Tuesday night and the early hours of yesterday in cult-related clashes in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
The Edo State Police Command, confirming the deaths, said 19-year-old Godspower Edobor was killed at Omozeghiam Street, off Okhoro Road, in the early hours of Wednesday.
A Benin-based radio station, however, said two others were killed at different locations in the metropolis.
On Tuesday, no fewer than three persons were killed in renewed cult clashes. Among Tuesday’s victims was a man in his 40s simply identified as Africa. There was also John Terry, whose head was smashed with a stone by his killers.
Addressing newsmen on the incident, the command’s spokesman, Chidi Nwabuzor, said several arrests have been made in connection with the killings, but he did not specify the number of persons in police custody.
“Killings from clashes by rival cult groups have continued unabated in Edo State. The renewed clashes between the cult groups have claimed several lives, the police are aware of it and adequate security measures have been put in place.
“Just yesterday, there was a joint security raid of criminal hideouts and black spots. This raid is geared towards making the state free of cult killings.
“So far, we’ve recorded incidents where lives were lost. One was at Odemwingie’s hotel, around Upper Sakponba. And, this morning, we heard of a 19-year-old boy who was killed around Okhoro area. Several deaths have been recorded, but I can’t give you the exact number now,” Nwabuzor said.