Three young men were hacked to death as rival cult groups clashed during a birthday party at Odoba Otukpa in Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State.
It was gathered that the incident happened on Saturday night, March 27 after fight broke out at the birthday party where a young man from Obu Otukpa, a neighbouring community was hacked to death.
According to an eyewitness, the death of the young man was said to have caused a reprisal from his community which led to the death of two others from Odoba.
One of the victims killed in Odoba was preparing to bury his father on Thursday this week.
The Chairman of Ogbadibo local government, Prince Samuel Onu, who confirmed the incident said that it was a cult-related issue.
“It has nothing to do with the communal crisis, it was a clash between rival groups. The incident happened at a party last night (Saturday night) and we have directed that the corpses be buried immediately.” he said.
Meanwhile, the Och’Otukpa, H.R.H Chief Sunday Ekele and the Anawogene of Ai-Oono H.R.H Chief Raphael Agada visited Odoba community on Sunday morning, March 28, to access the situation.