Three die in Edo cult clashes

    
At least three persons were feared dead in some parts of the Edo State capital, Benin, in the last two days, following reported clashes between two suspected rival cult groups.

The cult war is believed to have ensued  between members of Eiye confraternity and Black Axe over toll collection in Oredo Local Government Area.

Also, suspected hoodlums on Tuesday night, attacked a reporter with The Nation newspapers in Edo State, Mr. Ben Ogbemudia.

The reporter, who was inflicted with matchete cuts by the hoodlums, said he was attacked along Eke Street, close to St. Saviour, Upper Sokponba.

Ogbemudia said he had packed his car along the street where he had gone to see his family, on New Year eve, when he was summoned to pack properly.

He said while he was doing so, he was attacked by some miscreants, who alighted from  a Nissan Almera car marked Edo DGE 382 AA.

He said the three suspects, who he identified as Emwanta, Adult and Osaretin, attacked him and inflicted a deep cut on his upper left arm.

The victim was later rushed to a private clinic where he was treated before the case was later reported at St. Saviour Police Station.

The cult war was said to have started near Oba Market over ticketing money between members of a task force alleged to have been engaged by the state government and another group in the same area believed to have been engaged by Oredo LGA.

Eyewitnesses said three persons, one in Erunmwense area, off Ekenwan Road, another by Lucky Way, in Upper Mission Road and a third, near Ogbe area were killed in the renewed cult clash.