Adibe Emenyonu
27 October 2008
Benin — Residents of Benin City, Edo State capital, now live in fear as cult groups have made life unbearable for them in the past three weeks, killing at least six persons.
But the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Peter Ogboi, denied all these, saying there have been no report of such killings within this month.
THISDAY investigations revealed continuous gunshots ar odd hours of the night in certain areas around the metropolis, with an allegation that a phone call caused the death of an airtime vendor at Gapiona Junction, in GRA.
At Owie Street, by Ugbo road, also in GRA, a person was allegedly killed when some unidentified men attacked the street.
Besides, there was also reported cases of gunshots around Iwogban Quarters, by Lucky Way, with reported cases of sporadic shooting at night around Oko Central, off GRA and Ekenwan Road.
Within the same period, a man was said to have been shot dead by suspected cultists belonging to the Eiye Confraternity, near Church of God Mission, Adesuwa, while three persons were killed at Bamawo Street in the centre of the metropolis.
Ogboi said,: "What if vigilante shot into the air, will that become a problem I will find out but we don't have any report of cult activities in the city. I am not aware of cult activities in Benin . But I want to say here that apart from the case in new Benin reported three weeks ago, all other ones you are talking about I have not had course to read about the signals, and I believe that the police is not informed.
"Besides, I wonder how somebody will die through gunshots and the police would not be aware of it. To us, it is not true."
We are aware that at times vigilantes shoot into the air and we have warned them against it. "
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