Bloodbath in Benin City as Cult War Claims Over 15 Lives Despite New Anti-Cultism Law

… As Black Axe Vs Maphites Showdown Throws Edo Into Panic – Victims Butchered in Streets, Shops and Eateries

From Moshood Karim

At least 15 people have been killed in a spate of suspected cult-related attacks that have swept across Benin City in recent days, prompting widespread alarm among residents and renewed questions about the efficacy of recent government measures to curb such violence.

The killings, which began on Friday, 25 April, are believed to be the result of a resurgence in hostilities between two rival confraternities – the Black Axe and the Maphites. Victims have been gunned down or brutally attacked in various parts of the city, including commercial zones, residential neighbourhoods, and even near healthcare facilities.

Witness accounts describe a string of coordinated assaults that have left citizens living in fear and disrupted daily life in Edo State’s capital. In one of the earliest reported incidents, a young physiotherapist was shot dead in broad daylight while dining near the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. Shortly after, another man was killed in the same vicinity.

Further violence has been recorded along Sapele Road, Upper Forestry Road, 2nd Ugbor Road, and the Ring Road area. Victims include alleged cult members, business owners, and bystanders caught in the crossfire. Several killings were carried out in public settings, including eateries and shops, suggesting a heightened level of audacity among the perpetrators.

The attacks have continued despite the introduction of the Secret Cult and Similar Activities (Prohibition) Law, enacted earlier this year by Governor Monday Okpebholo. The legislation, passed in January, prescribes a 21-year prison sentence for individuals found guilty of participating in or supporting cult-related activity.

At the time of the law’s signing, the State government expressed optimism that the new measures would significantly deter organised cult activity. “There are provisions for stricter penalties for anyone found guilty of secret cult-related offences,” said Secretary to the State Government, Umar Ikhilor.

Governor Okpebholo also gave assurances that security agencies would work in close collaboration to suppress the menace. “We have ordered security agencies to collaborate and ensure that Edo is safe for all, but not safe for criminals,” he stated.

However, the recent spate of killings appears to have exposed significant gaps in enforcement. As of Monday evening, the Edo State Police Command had yet to issue a formal statement regarding the incidents, further fuelling public concern.

Residents have responded with heightened caution, with many businesses closing early and communities imposing self-imposed curfews. “We don’t feel safe. People are avoiding the streets by nightfall,” a shop owner near Upper Sokponba Road told Uptown Press Nigeria via WhatsApp chat.

Local observers warn that without a coordinated and visible security response, the situation risks spiralling further out of control. Human rights groups have also called for greater transparency from law enforcement agencies and swift action to prevent further bloodshed.

As investigations continue, the State government is under mounting pressure to prove that its anti-cultism stance goes beyond legislation and results in tangible security improvements for the people of Edo.