OOL friends at Drum Cussac sent the following today in their daily alerts.
SUMMARY:
According to reports on Monday, February 23, at least seven people have been killed during clashes between rival cult groups (gangs) in the Edo State capital Benin City since Friday, February 20. Four were killed at Ekenwan Road, while three others died at Boundary Road in the Government Reserved Area (GRA) and at Sakponba Road.
Separately, a Lebanese engineer, identified as Fahad, was killed at the Giwa Amu area in GRA, Benin City at approximately 2000 hrs local time on Friday, February 20. He was apparently stopped by gunmen while driving his Toyota Camry car and shot in the stomach, while his laptop, cell phones and valuables were stolen. The Lebanese was in charge of the construction of a shopping mall linked to a former state senator. Police confirmed the engineer’s death, but said it is unclear if he was killed by robbers or cultists.
ANALYSIS:
The current wave of cult violence is believed to be between the Black Axe and Eiye cult groups, which are linked to the University of Benin. Anyone in the vicinity of clashes could be at risk of indiscriminate attacks. At this time, there is insufficient information to determine who was responsible for the attack on the Lebanese engineer, though robbers may have been attracted by the Toyota Camry car that the engineer was driving.
ADVICE:
Those operating in or planning travel to Edo State should monitor local media and Drum Cussac Alerts for developments on the cult violence. It is advised to consult with local contacts to ascertain the security situation before traveling within Benin City. Stay away from universities and university towns, due to the potential for cult violence. Journey management should be carefully controlled and coordinated, with advice on armed escorts taken from a reputable security provider.
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