A 65-year-old retired nurse, Mrs. Esther Amali, and her 20-year-old housemaid, Mercy Mwuese, have been reportedly killed by a suspected cultist, Eko, in their residence along Makurdi-Naka Road in Makurdi, Benue State, on Sunday.

The suspect, identified as Jimilu Jibril, aka Eko, alleged to be a member of the Red Axe Confraternity, also lived in the same neighborhood with the deceased.

A source who spoke on condition of anonymity, that the attack and gruesome murder of the victims was an extension of the ongoing bitter rival cult war in that part of the town.

According to the eyewitness, the deceased maid “was dating a member of a cult gang with whom she eventually had a three-month-old child.”

He said this did not go down well with her neighbour (the suspect), a rival gang member, as he was always picking quarrels with the girl for having a close relationship with his enemy who he accused of having a hand in the murder of members of his gang.

“Before he attacked the girl and her madam on Sunday, the retired nurse tried to have the matter resolved because the suspect was always in the habit of harassing and abusing the maid.

“And yesterday evening we learnt that at about 4:30 pm, the suspect scaled the fence of the home of the woman and attacked her maid with a knife where she was washing clothes.

“She raised an alarm for help but the suspect stabbed her severally and before her madam could get to the scene, the nursing mother was already motionless.

“As Mrs Amali tried to raise alarm for help the young man grabbed and stabbed her severally also and fled; leaving them in their pool of blood.

“Though we learnt that the woman still managed to go out of her gate, calling for help, no one was nearby to come to her rescue. When people eventually knew what was happening, the two of them were rushed to the hospital,” he said.

He said the injured lady kept mentioning Eko’s name on their way to the hospital.

“Unfortunately both of them lost so much blood and eventually died even before they got to the hospital.

“The matter was immediately reported at the ‘D Division’ Police Station by members of the community and family members of the murdered women,” he added.

The suspect who lived with his parents in the neighbourhood before the attack was said to have fled the area after the incident.

Efforts to get the reaction of the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP. Catherine Anene, were unsuccessful.