Suspected cultists on rampage in Edo, kill betting operator, two others

A betting operator, simply identified as Romeo, was reportedly killed in Benin City, Edo State, by suspected cultists, who also left another victim with a life-threatening injury.

DAILY POST learnt that two other victims, identified as Eze and Bobor, were also killed by unidentified gunmen.

A source said the first incident happened at Second East Circular Road, 150 metres away from Esigie Police Division Station in Obagie community, Oredo LGA, while the second one happened in Ikpoba Okha LGA.

The source added that the betting operator was killed in his betting shop on Monday by a three-man armed gang.

The other two victims were reportedly shot dead while driving in their Lexus jeep on Saturday.

The source said gunmen accosted the duo inside their vehicle and immediately opened fire on them.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, attributed the renewed cult clash to a land tussle between Amagba and Obagie communities.

According to him: “It is impossible for an ordinary man to engage in a violent communal tussle. So, you should know that anyone at the forefront is not ordinary. These (killings) are the spillover effect because lives had been lost in the cause of communal tussle.”

Chidi Nwabuzor, the Public Relations Officer of the Edo State Police Command, who confirmed the clash, said the command was doing something about the suspected secret cult fighting in the state.

Nwabuzor, however, added that the command is soliciting information from the citizens, as the police cannot do it alone.

“Modern-day policing requires input from citizens and communities in the area of information to nip crime in the bud,” he added.