By Abimbola Ogunnaike
Edo State Police Command has confirmed that at least four students of Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, in Etsako West Local Government Area of the state, have been reportedly killed in renewed cult clashes.
It was learnt that clashes were between members of the Black Axe and Vikings confraternities.
The Edo State Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye, who confirmed the incident, said several of the suspected perpetuators of the killings have been arrested.
According to Adegboye, deadly weapons including AK-47 and automatic pump action guns were recovered from the suspects.
“We are on top of the situation, some arrests have been made in respect of the cult fight. We have been able to get some suspects arrested. We got an AK-47 and a suspect arrested today.
“We have up to six in our cell already and we would not relent. We would make the state uncomfortable for criminals, particularly in Auchi where we chased two with AK-47s and recover one which is a minus for them,” the state police boss said
It was gathered that one of the victims, a final year student of the Department of Engineering, was killed when he was about boarding motorcycle to school to write his final examination.
A source within the school premises said two other students were killed on Friday,31 May, 2024 and Saturday, 1 June, 2024 while going to school to write their second semester examinations.
He said they were killed at Campus III and at the gate of Campus II
The source added that one other suspected cultist was killed, while a lady who was hit by stray bullets on her way to the school for second semester examinations, sustained gunshot injuries.
He said the female student was walking alongside the deceased to the school when she was hit by stray bullets. The female student was rushed to a hospital for medical attention.
The source further disclosed that two of the four victims were final year students who were going to the school to write their final year examinations.
According to him, they were killed by rival cult groups.
