Reports reaching our news desk have it that no fewer than eight persons have been allegedly killed in a suspected cult attack in Aliade Street area of Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
The attack, which happened in the early hours of Monday, allegedly caused panic in the area as residents ran for their lives.
Residents said the attackers arrived in the area around 2 am on motorcycles and to storm a residential compound while many occupants were asleep.
Witnesses said the gunmen pulled some residents out and shot them.
Community sources said four people died instantly in the first phase of the attack.
They said that some neighbors who ran out after hearing gunshots were also attacked by the assailants, causing more casualties.
An eyewitness, who asked not to be identified for security reasons, said the incident was chaotic and traumatic.
The attackers were coordinated and left the scene right after the shooting, said the witness.
The incident created tension in the neighbourhood with residents staying indoors out of fear of further attacks.
The Chairman of Makurdi Local Government Area, Joseph Keffi, confirmed the incident and attributed it to suspected cult activities.
Keffi said initial investigations showed the attack might be related to a dispute between rival cult groups.
He said some innocent residents fell victim to the violence because they allegedly harboured one of the persons linked to the dispute.
Security agencies had been mobilised to track down those behind the attack, the council chairman said.
He also revealed that a suspected cult leader allegedly linked with repeated violent incidents in Makurdi had been identified, though the suspect was reportedly outside Benue State when the attack happened.
The attack was also confirmed by the Benue State Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari.
But he said the numbers being made public could be higher than the numbers the command has available to it.
After investigations and verification, Emenari said the police would issue a detailed statement.
Security operatives are said to have cordoned off the affected area shortly after the attack while the bodies of the victims were evacuated to different morgues in Makurdi.
The latest incident has heightened fears of a resurgence of cult-related violence in some parts of Benue State. Residents called on security agencies to step up operations and improve intelligence gathering to prevent further attacks.
