A middle-aged man working at a guest house in Benin City is reportedly on the run after suspected members of the dreaded Black Axe confraternity, also known as Aiyes, allegedly trailed him to the city and shot dead another man in the process.

The man, identified as Innocent Ako, was said to have previously resided in Ogbona, Etsako Central Local Government Area of Edo State, where he was allegedly linked to some members of the cult group.

Community sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that Ako had been pressured to join the confraternity against his will.

According to the source, repeated attempts were made to lure him into the group, but he consistently declined, reportedly due to his awareness of the violent and criminal activities associated with the cult, including bloody supremacy battles and senseless killings. His refusal was said to have angered members of the group, who allegedly marked him for elimination over fears that he knew too much about their operations.

Faced with mounting threats, Ako reportedly fled Ogbona and relocated to Benin City, where he secured employment at a guest house located on Ogiefa Avenue, off M.M. Way.

However, months after settling into his new job, suspected members of the confraternity allegedly tracked him down. Eyewitnesses claimed that the assailants, said to be dressed in full regalia, stormed the guest house in search of him. Upon sighting one of the suspected cultists, Ako reportedly escaped through an exit, moments before gunshots rang out within the premises.

During the attack, a middle-aged man described as a regular customer at the guest house was allegedly shot dead.

In a statement issued to journalists in Benin City, the Edo State Command of the Nigerian Police confirmed receiving a distress call about the fatal shooting by suspected hoodlums.

The Command noted that preliminary findings suggest the attackers were members of a cult group who had been pursuing Innocent Ako, who reportedly fled the scene upon noticing them.

Police authorities stated that investigations have commenced with a view to apprehending and prosecuting those responsible for the killing.

Meanwhile, tension remains high in Ogbona community, where unidentified individuals recently stormed Ako’s family residence, destroyed parts of the building and beats up the occupants in the process an old woman was shot on the leg and issuing threats that he would be hunted down relentlessly having refused to pay up monies owed one Mr.Felix who assisted him to Europe and promised to repay in an earlier agreement upon his arrival

As of the time of filing this report, the whereabouts of Innocent Ako remain unknown, while his family members are said to be living in fear amid ongoing threats.