Suspected cultists have reportedly killed eight people during a midnight attack on Aliade Street in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

According to a report by Punch Newspapers, the incident occurred around 2am on Monday when armed men riding motorcycles stormed a residential area and opened fire on residents.

A local resident, who spoke anonymously to PUNCH Online, said the attackers invaded a house on the street and killed several occupants.

Chairman of Makurdi Local Government Area, Joseph Keffi, confirmed the attack and described it as cult-related violence.

Keffi explained that the assailants targeted a suspected cult member who had reportedly fled from North Bank to seek refuge with friends at High Level in Makurdi.

He said four people sleeping in the compound were first awakened and shot dead, while four others who came out after hearing gunfire were also killed.

“It is quite ugly and pathetic,” Keffi said, adding that the victims were allegedly not cult members but were attacked for accommodating the suspect.

The council chairman disclosed that security agencies had been alerted and assured residents that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the perpetrators.

Keffi also claimed that one of the alleged cult leaders terrorising Makurdi and surrounding communities had previously been arrested and released by the police.

He commended security operatives for their swift response, noting that the area had been cordoned off while investigations continued.

The bodies of the victims were reportedly deposited at the morgues of the Benue State University Teaching Hospital and a private hospital in Makurdi.

Benue State Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, confirmed the incident but stated that the casualty figure was lower than eight.

“The PPRO will issue a statement on the cult-related incident later today, but going by our record, the casualty figure was not up to eight,” he said in a telephone interview with PUNCH Online.