Gunmen suspected to be cultists on Sunday shot dead the manager of a popular hotel in Benin, the Edo State capital.

CEOAfrica gathered that the deceased, Okunkpolor Osatohanmwen Von, 43, was hit by a bullet in his office located in Upper Sokponba area, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of the state when two cult groups engaged in shooting spree in the area.

The gunmen were said to have fled the scene before police operatives attached to Ugbekun Division arrived the scene.

During a condolecence visit yesterday by the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to the window of the deceased, Anita Otasowie Okunkpolor, who works with a community newspaper in the state, her elder sister, Stella Maikudi, said her sister was called by an anonymous caller that her husband has been shot dead.

When contacted, the police spokesman, DSP Chidi Nwanbuzor said the deceased was killed during a fight between two rival cult groups (Aye and Eiye) at the premises of the hotel located at Erediauwa Street, Upper Sokponba area on February 17.

He said “Two rival groups (Aye and Eiye) engaged themselves in a shoot out at the premises of the hotel. The manager was hit by a bullet and unfortunately, he died”.

He said the police is on top of the situation.

Meanwhile, the NUJ chairman, Roland Osakue has called for an independent inquiry into the alleged murder.