Operatives of the State Criminal Investigation Department of the Edo State Police Command carried out indiscriminate raids on Tuesday around Upper Sakponba and adjoining areas of Benin City, following recent cult-relating killings in the area.
It was gathered that the latest clash was between members of the Eiye Confraternity and Vikings in the ancient city, which led to shooting deaths, including of a popular barber at Aifuwa Street.
The deceased’s affiliation could not be ascertained, a source said it was just one of many recent killings in the city in the wake of the Edo State Governorship election last month.
Eyewitnesses said people fled their homes on Tuesday afternoon to avoid being caught in the cult war on one hand and indiscriminate arrests by operatives from the SCID, Benin City.
One of the victims fleeing the troubled area made a video of the rampage, saying, “Things are happening at Upper (Sakponba) right now. Everywhere is very rough now and everybody is running helter-skelter.”
One eyewitness said on Instagram, “If you see the raiding happening since in Upper! There are busting squads everywhere,”
The youth who identified as callme_richie27, advised people whose family members are missing to visit the SCID office to inquire, because according to him, “the raid has been massive.”
Residents blame Gov Obaseki for arming youths under the guise of Vigilante
Another source blamed the prevailing situation on some politicians, including the outgoing governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki.
The source, Fiber_millardi, alleged that the state governor provided guns to individuals under the guise of vigilantes, hinting that the guns have now fallen into the hands of individuals who are using it to terrorise the city.
“Governor Obaseki is the cause of the problem, the guns in Benin City. The guns in the city are more than individuals living there all in the name of vigilante.”
