10 killed as cultists clash in Edo - 5 killed, 100 houses destroyed in Ebonyi clash

From Uchechukwu Olisah and Clement Oko Nnachi - 12.05.2008

ABOUT 10 persons were reported to have been killed in Benin City, the Edo State capital, in the last one week following renewed clashes among cult groups from different higher institutions of learning in the state.

Also in Ebonyi State, about five people were killed and 100 houses destroyed in a communal clash.

The clashes in Edo, which were said to have started about a week ago, were reported to be between the Eiye and the Black Axe confraternities.

Trouble was said to have started when a leader of one of the rival cult groups was killed in the Ekehuan Road area of Benin City.

Besides, the second in command to the murdered leader was also reportedly attacked and murdered when he tried to escape at a night club at the weekend.

Last Tuesday, some persons suspected to be members of rival cult groups engaged one another in a shoot-out at Ekosodin, a suburb near the University of Benin (UNIBEN).

In that incident, three persons were shot dead while a 200 level student of Engineering was wounded and is now said to be receiving treatment at the intensive care unit of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH).

It was also learnt that two students from yet to be identified school in the state were shot dead along Mission Road in the Benin metropolis on Thursday night, while two others were also found dead in different parts of the state.

The state police command confirmed that four persons had been killed so far in the various confrontations. The command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Peter Ogboi, stated that four persons had been arrested in connection with the killings.

He expressed concern over the incident and explained that the police had visited all the campuses in the state in order to bring all those behind the incident to book.
“The situation is very worrisome and we want to use this opportunity to beg parents to talk to their children. One of the problems we are having is that people are shielding these cultists and it is not good for us. Look at how they are killing themselves; is that what they sent them to do in school?
“But be rest assured that we will soon expose them. We will not tell you all we are doing now because they will know about it because of their powerful network; but we shall expose them in a couple of days. This is unacceptable to us here in this state,” he added.
Also, about five persons have been feared dead and 100 houses and goods worth millions of naira destroyed in a communal clash that erupted between the Eziulo community and their Ezza counterpart in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
An eyewitness told the Nigerian Tribune that the cause of the crisis was a dispute over the ownership of a piece of land.
Trouble started when a member of Eziulo community was alleged to have been prevented from erecting a commercial phone booth at Isinkpume market by Ezza people.
When the Nigerian Tribune visited the scene of the crisis, two motorcycles, several houses, market stalls, household property and domestic animals were destroyed.
Many residents in the area sustained various degrees of injuries resulting from machet cuts while displaced victims are now taking refuge at Ishielu Police Station.
Confirming the incident, the Chairman of Ishielu Local Government Area, Mr. Onwa Ali Onwa, said that he had reported the incident to the state Commissioner of Police, and the authorities at Government House, Abakaliki, to wade into the disturbances and restore normalcy in the area.
The Ebonyi State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Fredrick Nudam, in a telephone interview, said that a detachment of both military and police personnel had been drafted to the area to prevent further crisis, adding that investigation into the causes of the mayhem had commenced.