Seventeen suspected cultists were arrested on Friday night along the Tombia-Amassoma Road over their alleged involvement in the killing of two graduates of the Niger Delta University (NDU), Amassoma, in a renewed wave of cult-related violence.
Among the suspects are four alleged cyber fraudsters, popularly known as Yahoo boys, accused of sponsoring the brutal killings.
According to a senior police source, the arrest was made by the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) during a routine stop-and-search operation mounted on the road. The operation was led by CSP Bishop Elemide.
The arrests followed a radio alert about a violent incident that occurred in the Gbarantoru area, off Amassoma Road. Acting swiftly, the RRS officers mounted a roadblock and intercepted a Suzuki mini bus.
“We found over 13 boys cramped inside, some with bloodstains on their clothes and machetes smeared with blood. This immediately raised suspicion,” the source said. “Upon further interrogation, the suspects confessed they had traveled to the crime scene in two mini buses. One of the buses developed a fault during their escape, so they abandoned it and all boarded the second vehicle.”
Another police source identified the suspects as members of the notorious Vikings cult group. It was also alleged that the killings were orchestrated by the four Yahoo boys.
When contacted, the spokesman of the Bayelsa State Police Command, Musa Mohammed, confirmed the arrests. “Yes, some major arrests have been made, and the level of involvement of each suspect is currently under investigation,” he said.
Conflicting reports have emerged regarding the identities of the slain graduates. While some sources claim they were members of the Neo Black Movement (Black Axe, a.k.a. Aye), others allege they belonged to the Bobos cult group.
Following the killings, many known Vikings members in Bayelsa institutions, including secondary and tertiary schools, have reportedly gone into hiding for fear of reprisals.
Residents of Yenagoa, the state capital, have expressed growing concern over rising insecurity. Some fun seekers at bars and lounges reported observing suspicious movements by men believed to be searching for rival cult members.
In the past week, Yenagoa has witnessed several disturbing incidents involving gunfire, suspected to be clashes between rival cult groups. On Sunday morning, a confrontation between two rival gangs erupted at the Swali Ultra Modern Market, causing chaos and leading to the death of one person.
While some sources suggest the gunfire came from policemen chasing cultists in an unmarked vehicle, others believe it was another round of inter-cult violence.
A senior police officer assured the public that the Commissioner of Police, Francis Idu, and his team are working tirelessly to restore order. “We are committed to ending these nefarious cult clashes and bringing the perpetrators to justice. Several arrests have been made, and the State Government has provided support. Politicians have also been warned not to interfere with ongoing investigations. Those arrested will face the full wrath of the law,” the officer stated.
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