Our Reporter
Tension has escalated in the North Bank area of Makurdi, Benue State, following a second attempt on the life of a local vigilante commander identified as Double (upper left pic). The attacks, both allegedly orchestrated by members of the Aye (Neo Black Movement – NBM) cult group, have raised serious concerns about the deepening grip of cult violence in the area and the State’s apparent inability to curb it.
On April 23, Naija Confra reported that Double, a commander with Shara—a local security network operating in North Bank—was targeted by Aye hit squad. The cult group accused him of collaborating with rival cultists, specifically the Vikings (also known as Dey Nor Dey Carry Last Initiative, DNKI), and of leading joint raids on Aye members’ hideouts alongside the police.
According to sources, the first assassination attempt was led by a youthful but feared Aye cultist known only as Gentle. Despite his age, Gentle is reportedly notorious for multiple contract killings within and outside Benue State. On that occasion, the hit squad missed their target, and Double was able to repel the attackers, chasing them off with reinforcements from his unit.
In retaliation, Double allegedly spearheaded a clampdown on Aye activities in North Bank, arresting several suspected members and intensifying surveillance in the area. This crackdown appears to have provoked a second, more brazen attack.
Yesterday, the same hit squad reportedly ambushed Double outside his residence. Though he was shot and sustained bullet wounds, he managed to escape and was swiftly taken to hospital. Medical sources confirm he has since been treated and discharged.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, residents and local informants told Naija Confra that Double‘s survival may not be coincidental. Rumours abound that he is a former high-ranking member of the Vikings confraternity and possesses combat experience, which possibly enabled him to evade fatal injury during the gun attack.
One source noted: “He Double used to be a feared Viking. That’s why he knows how to dodge bullets and fight back. That’s also why the Ayes are desperate to get him.”
Despite his efforts to stabilise the community through security operations, some locals view Double’s history as part of the problem rather than the solution, underscoring the murky overlap between former cultists and community vigilante groups.
Meanwhile, the cultist known as Gentle continues to draw fear and controversy. While many within the Aye group admire his ruthlessness during clashes with rival cults, others blame him for drawing unnecessary heat from security forces. His increasing notoriety has done little to deter him. In fact, sources say that being featured in underground reports like those of Naija Confra only boosts his status among peers.
“Gentle won’t be scared if you put his face in the news,” a local resident told reporters. “He will see it as an honour. Going to prison for these boys is like a promotion, not a punishment.”
The reoccurring violence, especially between Aye and Vikings cultists, has left many fearing for their safety, with repeated calls for both state and federal authorities to intervene more decisively.
Community leaders have urged the government to strengthen formal law enforcement efforts and implement youth engagement programmes to combat the underlying drivers of cultism in Benue State.
As of the time of writing, neither the police nor Benue State officials have issued a formal statement regarding the attacks on Double or the identity of the attackers.
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