Suspected cultists kill barber, others in Edo

A 27-year-old barber was on Tuesday shot dead by gunmen suspected to be cultists at New Benin in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State.

It was learnt that the late barber, simply identified as Patrick, was accosted by his assailants in front of his shop and shot at a close range.

Another man was reportedly killed ‎at about 7am, at Second East Circular road, in Benin, the state capital.

A 65-year-old wood seller, Mrs. Philomena Evbuomwan, who witnessed the barber’s death, said the gunmen shot their victim in the head and chest and ensured that he was dead before they left.

Evbuomwan added that she was threatened by the gunmen, who pointed a gun at her.

‎She said, “I was selling wood when Patrick greeted me. I later sat with him. Suddenly, three boys walked towards us.

“One pointed a gun at my head and later dropped it. He shot Patrick; the other one also fired a shot.

“The third person took his gun and tapped Patrick. When he saw that he was dead, they ran away. After that, I fainted.”

This brings to six the number persons said to have been killed by suspected cultists, four of which were reportedly shot dead last weekend.

It was gathered that the cult clashes might be a fallout of a scuffle at one of the polling units in the state capital, during the March 28 election, which led to the death of a member of one of the cult groups.

The Edo State Police Public Relations Officer,  DSP Stephen Onwochei, could, however, not be reached for comments on the incidents as of the time of filing this report.

Suspected cultists kill barber, others in Edo