Amassoma, Bayelsa State – A fresh wave of cult-related violence has claimed the life of Abinna Precious Briggs, a student of the Niger Delta University (NDU), who had recently completed his final examinations and signed out, pending his project defense. The tragic incident occurred on the night of May 12, 2025, in Amassoma, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.
According to reports circulated on social media, Briggs was allegedly shot by suspected cultists. He was rushed to a nearby medical facility for emergency care, but the hospital reportedly refused to admit or treat him due to procedural issues related to gunshot wounds. Sadly, he succumbed to his injuries shortly thereafter.
The name of the victim was given as Abinna Precious Briggs, a native of Rivers State. However, details about his academic department or faculty were not immediately available at the time of this report. Efforts to confirm the incident from the State Police Public Relations Officer, Musa Mohammed, proved abortive.
This incident adds to the spate of cult-related violence that has rocked Bayelsa State in recent months. In January 2025, multiple fatalities were recorded in Yenagoa, including clashes in Igbogene and Amarata, where at least four individuals were killed in cult wars involving rival groups such as the Greenlanders and Bobos.
More recently, in February 2025, a stray bullet from another cult clash claimed the life of Mrs. Christiana Onoakpoma Rose, a trader at the Swali Ultra-Modern Market. In another grisly episode, 30-year-old Darlington Watson was stoned to death in Agudama-Epie, further raising concerns about the deteriorating security situation.
Addressing the surge in cult-related killings during a recent press briefing, Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Alonyenu Francis Idu , shed light on the internal dynamics fueling the violence. He alleged that a cult member identified simply as Wanemi was killed by his own gang members due to a leadership tussle within the group. According to the Commissioner, “It was not an external attack; he was murdered by his fellow cultists who disagreed with his hold on power.”
The Commissioner reiterated the resolve of the Bayelsa Police Command to crack down on cultism and prosecute not just active participants, but also their sponsors and sympathizers. He warned that the police would not tolerate any attempt to derail the fragile peace in the state.
Despite a “ceasefire agreement” earlier brokered between the police and leaders of major cult groups in January, the recent killings suggest the pact has either collapsed or failed to stem the tide of violence.
Civil society organizations and community leaders have called on the state government to intensify efforts in curbing youth restiveness, strengthening community policing, and establishing rehabilitative programs for cultists willing to renounce violence.
As the state mourns the loss of yet another promising youth, pressure is mounting on security agencies to restore order and ensure justice for the victims of this ongoing crisis.
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