Cultists kill man in Benue market

A young man was on Tuesday morning shot dead by suspected cultists at the village section of the Modern Market in Makurdi metropolis of Benue State.

Daily Trust gathered that the incident which happened about 10:45am caused panic among sellers and buyers at the market.

It was learnt that the deceased had ridden his motorcycle to the market and was alighting when the two assailants walked up to him and shot him twice.

The deceased was also said to have attempted to run away even after he was shot but his assailants prevented him from doing so as they pelted him with stones and tyre wheel until he succumbed to death.

A witness told newsmen in Makurdi that, “we all ran for our lives while the whole drama lasted. From where I was, I saw how they hit him severally with stones and wheel on his head. When they were sure that he died, they then left him on the ground and walked away through a section of the market unchallenged.

“The traders at the market quickly closed their stores for about an hour until policemen from the D-Division came and evacuated the victim’s corpse and motorcycle from the scene.”

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Catherine Anene, confirmed the incident. She said “on 2/3/2021 at about 1 am, information was received at ‘D’ Police Division Makurdi that a young man was trailed and hit on the head by unknown men. The victim was taken to hospital where he was confirmed dead.

“The corpse has been deposited at the hospital morge while investigation is in progress.

“The command commiserates with friends and family of the deceased and assures them of investigation to bring to book the perpetrators of this gruesome act.”