Four people, including a soldier, were reportedly killed by suspected cultists at North Bank, a suburb of Makurdi, Benue State, on Friday.
Clashes among rival cult members have been on the increase around the North Bank area in the past few weeks.
According to eyewitnesses, those killed on Friday were innocent people who were attacked by the cultists on rampage.
Confirming the incident, the Chairman of a vigilance group known as operation Shara in North Bank, Nura Umar, said the soldier and other people were killed in separate attacks on Thursday and Friday night.
Umar said, “These cultists wreaked havoc on Friday around 10-11 pm. A soldier and two boys were killed. It happened around the BIPC. Those boys (deceased) were not cultists, but those who shot them were suspected to be cultists.
“Then on Thursday, one person (suspected cultist) who was sleeping in his house was killed.”
When contacted, the spokesperson for the State Command of the police, Catherine Anene, said only a civilian was killed.
She said, “Yes, there were cult activities in North Bank but am aware of one person killed, a young civilian. “Operatives have been deployed to the area.
