TELL Magazine

The spate of cult-related killings in Edo State continued Friday with four persons reportedly hacked to death at Afokeplla in Etsako East Local Government Area of the state in a suspected reprisal attack by a rival cult group. Sources in the area hinted the magazine that the ugly incident had resulted in the burning down of no fewer than 10 houses in the town. A resident of the community, Ahmed Seidu linked the Killing to a misunderstanding between members of rival cults groups in the community. According to Seidu, “the crisis escalated when one of the leaders of a cult group was shot dead, thereby causing a show of force by the rival group”. He said since Monday, members of the community had been living in fear hoping that the situation would be brought under control by the security agencies. The Chairman of the local government council,  Aremiyau Momoh who has imposed an ‪8 pm to 6 am‬ curfew on the town when he paid a fact-finding visit to the community, confirmed the death of four persons and the burning of 10 houses. Momoh said the curfew would remain in force until the situation is brought under control. “The community is now devoid of its usual busy commercial activities as residents have gone into hiding for fear of attack while the police are on the ground doing their investigation. According to the chairman of the council, “I have imposed curfew ‪between 8 pm and 6 am‬ in the community and anyone found wanting at this hour would be arrested and handed over to the security agencies”.When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Edo State command, DSP Chidi Nwanbuzor said that the command was not aware of the situation. “We don’t have that report in our command. I will have to get across to the Divisional Police Officer, DPO of Okpella on this development,” he said.