Police arrest 11 suspected cultists over killing of eight in Benue
May 11, 2026 7:22 pm
By John Charles
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The Benue State Police Command has arrested 11 suspected cultists in connection with the killing of eight persons during an early morning attack in Makurdi.
The Command’s spokesperson, DSP Udeme Edet, confirmed the arrests in a statement issued on Monday in Makurdi, noting that detectives were deployed to the scene immediately after a distress call was received.
According to the statement, “On 11/05/2026 at about 0230hrs, a distress call was received from a landlord at Aliade Street, High Level, Makurdi, that some armed men came to his house, dragged some young men out of their room and shot them.”
She added that preliminary investigation indicated the attack was cult-related and allegedly carried out by a gang suspected to be led by one “Odinaka,” who is currently at large.
“Eleven (11) suspects have been arrested in connection with the case while efforts are being made to arrest the gang leader ‘Odinaka’,” the Command stated.
The incident, which occurred around 2 am on Monday, left at least eight people dead in what residents described as a coordinated invasion of a residential compound along Aliade Street.
A resident who asked not to be named said the attackers stormed the area on motorcycles and targeted occupants of a particular house.
“Some people invaded the street around 2 am today and attacked some people living in one of the houses along the street and killed eight people,” the resident said.
Chairman of Makurdi Local Government Area, Joseph Keffi, who also confirmed the incident, said the attackers arrived between 2 am and 2:30 am and moved directly into a compound.
He said, “It is quite ugly and pathetic. The incident happened between 2 am and 2:30 am today, and it was cult-related.”
Keffi explained that four people were first shot inside the compound before four others who came out after hearing gunshots were also killed.
“Some young men rode on motorcycles to the street between 2 am and 2:30 am on Monday. On getting to Aliade street, they went into a particular compound, saw four persons sleeping, and they woke them up and shot them,” he said.
He added that security agencies had been informed and were already pursuing the attackers.
“I have reported the incident to all the security agencies, and they assured me that they would apprehend all the perpetrators,” he stated.
The council chairman also alleged that the group behind the attack has been responsible for repeated violence in Makurdi, adding that one of its leaders had previously been arrested and released.
“He comes in, strikes and leaves. Right now, he is not in the state. The day he comes again, he will kill not less than 10 persons and leave,” Keffi said, urging security agencies to ensure proper prosecution.
Meanwhile, the bodies of the victims have been deposited at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital and a private mortuary in Makurdi, as the community remains in shock over the latest cult-related killings.
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