Posted by Chinenye on Tue 12th May, 2026 - tori.ng
Panic has gripped Makurdi, the Benue State capital, after at least eight people were killed in a brutal suspected cult attack on Aliade Street in the early hours of Monday.
(Suspected Cult Attack. Photo by P.M.News)
At least eight people have been killed in a suspected cult attack on Aliade Street in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, in the early hours of Monday.
According to residents, the attackers arrived on motorcycles at around 2 a.m. and descended on a residential compound while most occupants were asleep. Witnesses recounted that the gunmen forcibly dragged some residents out before shooting them at close range.
Community sources indicated that four people lost their lives immediately during the first wave of the attack.
Further casualties were recorded when neighbors who came out to investigate the commotion were also targeted by the assailants.
An eyewitness, who requested anonymity for personal safety reasons, described the scene as chaotic and deeply traumatic, noting that the attackers operated in a well-coordinated manner before quickly fleeing the scene.
The Chairman of Makurdi Local Government Area, Joseph Keffi, confirmed the attack and attributed it to suspected cult rivalry. He said early findings suggest the violence stemmed from a dispute between competing cult factions, and that some innocent residents became victims simply because they had allegedly sheltered one of the individuals connected to the conflict.
He added that security agencies had been deployed and were actively working to identify and apprehend those responsible.
Keffi also revealed that a suspected cult leader believed to be linked to a series of violent incidents in Makurdi had been identified, though the individual was reportedly outside Benue State at the time of the attack.
Benue State Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, confirmed the incident but cautioned that the casualty figures being circulated publicly may exceed what official records currently reflect. He indicated that a comprehensive statement would be issued once investigations and verification are concluded.
Security personnel cordoned off the affected area shortly after the attack, and the bodies of the victims were transported to various morgues across Makurdi.
The incident has reignited concerns over persistent cult-related violence in parts of Benue State, with residents calling on authorities to intensify security operations and strengthen intelligence gathering to prevent further bloodshed.