Five Feared Killed as Cult Clashes Resume in Bayelsa
By Jonah Fubara, YENAGOA –Â At least five persons are feared dead following renewed clashes between rival cult groups in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, with the Police Command ordering intensified operations and the arrest of those behind the violence.
The renewed cult war, which reportedly began on Friday between the Bobos and Greenlanders, has recorded violent incidents in Agudama, Obele and the Back of St. Peters areas of the state capital.
Sources said the latest violence has raised concerns over the peace agreement previously reached among various cult groups through the intervention of the former leadership of the State Police Command.
The development is also threatening the existing understanding between the Greenlanders and Icelanders, according to sources familiar with the situation.
One source claimed that the first reported killing in Agudama involved a youth who was allegedly attacked and beheaded. Another suspected cult member was reportedly shot in the buttocks but was rescued by a neighbour. His current condition could not be immediately ascertained.
The cause of the renewed hostilities could not be immediately established as of press time. However, residents said the Bobos and Greenlanders have a history of rivalry despite previous peace initiatives.
A visit to some identified cult flashpoints, including the Imgbi Road axis, Ovom and Obele, showed that youths suspected to be involved in cult-related activities had largely disappeared from the areas, reportedly due to fears of police arrest and attacks by rival groups.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State Command, CP Ajao Saka Adewale, ordered intensified operations against cultism and cult-related violence across the state.
Ajao directed Divisional Police Officers and tactical commanders to increase patrols in vulnerable areas, identify emerging threats and act promptly on credible intelligence concerning planned clashes, initiation ceremonies and recruitment activities.
The Commissioner also ordered increased engagement with community leaders to identify and address tensions before they escalate.
He said whenever an attack occurs, police personnel must move swiftly to secure the area, investigate those responsible and prevent retaliatory violence.
The CP warned cult groups planning attacks or reprisals that the Command would go after them and their sponsors.
According to him, there would be no sacred cows in the fight against cultism, stressing that anyone reasonably suspected of organising, financing, facilitating or participating in cult-related crimes would be investigated regardless of status or influence.
He noted that the Bayelsa State Secret Cults/Societies and Similar Activities (Prohibition) Law, 2012, as amended in 2018, prohibits membership and sponsorship of secret cults and provides serious criminal penalties upon conviction.
The police boss urged parents and guardians to caution their children and wards against cult involvement, while calling on residents to report planned attacks, recruitment activities and other cult-related incidents to the nearest police station.
The Command also warned residents against reprisal attacks, harbouring suspects and spreading rumours capable of provoking further violence.
It urged members of the public to report threats promptly and avoid taking the law into their own hands.
