No fewer than four persons have been reportedly killed, following a renewed cult war between rival groups in Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, the Administrative Headquarters of Etsako West Local Area of Edo State.
According to findings, the victims were killed in different locations during a violent clash between the Black Axe and Supreme Vikings confraternities.
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It was learnt that trouble started on Saturday, June 24 when a National Youth Service Corpse member alleged to be a member of the Black Axe confraternity was shot by the rival Supreme Vikings Confraternity.
The alleged NYSC member, according to sources, was later rushed to the hospital for treatment and had since been discharged.
Reports say in a reprisal attack, a member of Vickings group was reportedly killed around Mr. Biggs in Jattu, Auchi, while three other victims were shot dead around Mechanic Site, Vacchi and Winners Road, all in Auchi.
According to reports, due to their involvement in cultism, some lecturers of the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi were said to have abandoned invigilation of of the ongoing SPAT Examinations on Friday morning for fear of being attacked.
But in a swift response, the Assistant Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the institution, Mrs. Adebola Ogunboyowa, debunked the rumour, maintaining that the school ended its SPAT examinations on Friday as students are expected to vocate hall of residence on Saturday.
She said: “The allegation is not true. But in the first place, whatever is happening, maybe the issue of cult clashes, nothing happened in the polytechnic community.
“As I speak to you right now, I am in school and nothing is happening within the polytechnic community.
“Whatever is happening outside the polytechnic community because we have surrounding host communities, we have no power over it”, she said
Attempts to get response from the Edo State Police Command failed as several calls put across to the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Chidi Nwanbuzor, were unanswered