Two people were killed on Wednesday following a violent clash between rival cult groups in Jato Aka, Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State.
The Benue State Police Command confirmed the incident on Thursday through its spokesperson, DSP Udeme Edet, who said the violence involved members of the Red and Black cult groups.
According to Edet, the clash occurred on January 7, 2026, at about 10:30 a.m., prompting operatives attached to the Jato-Aka Division to respond swiftly to the scene.
“The clash resulted in the death of two male persons, while other victims sustained varying degrees of injuries and were taken to nearby medical facilities for treatment,” she said.
Edet disclosed that eight suspects were arrested in connection with the incident. Those arrested include Mvaater Adebo, Pineter Akurayati, Daniel Ese, Samuel Kwaghzer, Isaac Iorapul, Terungwa Tertese, Aondonenge Aper and Ternenge Aondokura.
In a related development, the police said a suspected bandit was also killed on Wednesday during a gun duel with operatives who foiled an attempted kidnap of a hotelier in Zaki Biam, Ukum Local Government Area of the state.
Edet explained that a patrol team from the Ukum Division was deployed after receiving intelligence on the kidnap attempt. She said the suspects opened fire on sighting the police, prompting a gun battle.
“The patrol team responded with superior firepower, during which one of the bandits sustained fatal gunshot injuries,” she said.
The injured suspect was taken to the General Hospital in Zaki Biam, where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor. He was later identified as Terkaa Samuel, a suspected notorious bandit from Jandekyula in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State.
Items recovered from the two operations include locally fabricated pistols, expended cartridges, live ammunition, axes, machetes and a bag containing charms.
The police said efforts were ongoing to arrest other suspects who fled the cult clash, noting that additional patrol and tactical teams have been deployed to surrounding areas to track fleeing bandits who may have sustained gunshot injuries.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Ifeanyi Emenari, reassured residents of the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property, while urging the public to continue providing timely and credible information to aid crime prevention and detection.
The command added that it has intensified its crackdown on cult-related activities across the state, following the recent arrest of suspected cult members in Gboko, where two people were also reportedly killed in a similar clash last week.
