Police Nab 11 After Cultists Storm Benue Residence on Motorcycles; Eight Young Men Gunned Down as Cops Launch Manhunt for Gang Leader ‘Odinaka’

The peace of the High Level area in Makurdi was shattered in the early hours of Monday as a suspected cult-related hit squad turned a residential street into a “technical trench” of violence. By the time the sun rose over the Benue State capital, eight young men were confirmed dead, and 11 suspects were in police custody following a swift and aggressive “digital-age” response by the state command.

The horror began at approximately 2:00 AM on Aliade Street. Witnesses described a coordinated “motorcycle invasion” where armed men moved directly to a specific compound with clinical precision. According to local reports, the attackers breached a room where four occupants were sleeping, dragging them out before executing them. As the sound of gunfire echoed through the neighborhood, four other residents who rushed out to help were also caught in the hail of bullets, bringing the final death toll to eight.

Confirming the breakthrough on Monday evening, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, revealed that the promptness of a distress call from a local landlord allowed tactical teams to intercept a segment of the gang. “We have 11 suspects in our facility, and they are providing valuable data as we speak,” Edet stated. “Our focus now is on ‘Odinaka,’ the suspected ringleader who orchestrated this cold-blooded operation.”

Makurdi Local Government Chairman, Joseph Keffi, expressed deep frustration over the incident, describing it as a “senseless waste of life” fueled by a recurring cycle of cult rivalry. He alleged that the group involved had been terrorizing the area for months, with their leader frequently slipping across state lines to evade the “security shield” of the law.

As the community remains in a state of shock, the Benue State Police Command has flooded the High Level and Wadata axes with additional patrols to ensure no retaliatory “aura-for-aura” violence erupts. While 11 suspects are already facing interrogation, the police have urged residents to stay vigilant and report any sightings of the fleeing gang members, as the “technical rescue” of the city’s safety continues.