Three Police officers including an Assistant Area commander were yesterday reportedly shot by gunmen in a renewed clash between rival Aye and Eiye cult groups in Benin, Edo State.
The development brings to 30 the number of people who lost their lives to fracas due to rivalry between cult groups in the state.
It was gathered that the police officers were shot in the morning around Albico Junction in Upper Sakponba road by the gunmen who engaged in sporadic shooting in the area.
The hoodlums it was learnt, opened fire on the police team on sighting them arriving at the scene.
It was further learnt that four persons were killed at Erediauwa street and Three house, in Upper Sakponba when rival cult group clash in the area.
The police officers were said to have been taken to the hospital for treatment.
Soldiers have been deployed to the conflict areas like Upper Sakponba, Idogbo, Three House Junction and adjoining locations where cultists’ activities and the clash happened.
It was learnt that between Monday and Friday when the renewed cult war started, over 10 persons have been killed.
It wasn’t clear what sparked the latest clash, but sources said one of the key actors in one of the rival cult confraternity was scheduled for burial yesterday, a development that may have ignited the crisis.
The Edo police command confirmed that yet-to-be identified gunmen shot a senior police officer in the line of duty.
The command’s spokesman, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, who confirmed the incident to newsmen, said the officer is an Area Commander. He said the wounded officer was receiving treatment at an undisclosed medical facility in Benin.
Join Daily Trust WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.
