Cephas Iorhemen

A suspected cult member in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State, Kator Tsegba, was at the weekend killed by his colleagues during an initiation/charm test, which he reportedly failed.

The cultist met his death while testing his bulletproof charm after consuming a concoction which failed him during their usual assembly at Ihungwanor in Mbayion District of Gboko Local Government Area.

A source from the area said that out of shock, a Tsegba’s relation, who is also a cultist, after he got wind of the incident, raised the alarm which attracted the attention of the police.

Our correspondent, who was in the area observed that as a result of the incident, residents of Gboko and its environs were now living in fear as the new Divisional Police Officer in charge of Gboko A Division, SP Dooiyor Fatmann, was going about with his anti-cultism team in search of the culprits.

It was learnt that, already, about 13 suspected cult members had been arrested while 12 of them were remanded at the Gboko Prison.

A Gboko-based motorcyclist, Mr. Nathaniel Shaku, told our correspondent that the cultists, while performing their rituals, killed the victim, prompting the swift intervention of the police.

Efforts to reach the DPO proved abortive, but a source closed to him quoted him as commending Gboko Local Government chairperson, Mrs. Becky Orpin, traditional rulers and the youth for their cooperation in the fight against the crime.

The source, however, disclosed that the DPO was finding it tough with some parents of the suspected cultists.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Moses Yamu, did not pick his calls to get more details of the incident.

Newtelegraphonline