At least eight persons have reportedly been killed following a suspected cult attack in the Aliade Street area of Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
The attack, which occurred in the early hours of Monday, reportedly threw the area into panic as residents scampered for safety.
Residents said the attackers arrived in the area around 2 am on motorcycles and stormed a residential compound while many occupants were asleep.
Witnesses alleged that the gunmen dragged out some residents before opening fire on them.
Community sources said four people died instantly during the first phase of the attack.
They added that some neighbours who rushed out after hearing gunshots were also attacked by the assailants, leading to more casualties.
An eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, described the incident as chaotic and traumatic.
According to the witness, the attackers appeared coordinated and fled the scene immediately after carrying out the shooting.
The incident caused tension in the neighbourhood, as residents remained indoors for fear of further attacks.
The Chairman of Makurdi Local Government Area, Joseph Keffi, confirmed the incident and linked it to suspected cult activities.
Keffi said preliminary findings indicated that the attack may have been connected to a disagreement between rival cult groups.
He explained that some innocent residents were caught in the violence because they allegedly accommodated one of the persons linked to the dispute.
The council chairman said security agencies had been mobilised to track down those behind the attack.
He also disclosed that a suspected cult leader allegedly connected to repeated violent incidents in Makurdi had been identified, although the suspect was reportedly outside Benue State when the attack occurred.
The Benue State Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, also confirmed the attack.
However, he noted that the casualty figures being circulated publicly might be higher than the official records available to the command.
Emenari said the police would release a detailed statement after investigations and verification processes had been completed.
Security operatives were said to have cordoned off the affected area shortly after the attack, while the bodies of the victims were evacuated to different morgues in Makurdi.
The latest incident has heightened concerns over recurring cult-related violence in parts of Benue State. Residents called on security agencies to intensify operations and improve intelligence gathering to prevent further attacks.