Gunmen (file photo)

Jethro Ibileke/Benin

Renewed cult restiveness in Benin, capital of Edo State, has resulted in the killing of three persons between Friday last week and Monday this week.

The ugly trend began with the killing of a man simply identified as Okpoko on Friday night by gunmen suspected to be cultists.

Okpoko, a textile dealer, was reportedly assassinated at his residence at Ogimwenken Street, off Upper Uwa Road, in Benin.

Another victim, a middle-aged man, simply identified as Osazuwa, was reportedly shot severally and set ablaze on Sunday, by his assailants, at Ozolua Street, off First East Circular Road in Benin.

An eyewitness, who did not want to be named, said the assailants who were eight in number, watched their victim burn to death before leaving the scene of the incident.

The third victim, a yet to be identified man, was shot dead on along Lucky Way, off Second East Circular Road.

It was gathered that uneasy calm envelops the rival cult groups in the metropolis, as they were yet to identify the groups  responsible for the killings.

A source in the area however told journalists on condition of anonymity, that cultists in the area are worried because identifying those responsible for the killing will enable others know their enemies and deal squarely with it.

“Of course, you know these killings have taken a different partner from what was obtainable in the past.

“I give you an instance: Eiye confraternity  group were suspected to have killed the man around Upper Uwa, because of the rivalry between Aiye confraternity and the former, a member of Vickies was two days after.

“So, you see the confusion. As I speak to you, we are aware that the various groups are consulting with witch doctors to unravel the true identity of the assailants,” the source added.

Efforts to confirm the killings from the police failed, as calls made to the State Police Command Spokesman, DSP Moses Nkombe, for comment went unanswered.