The Bayelsa State Command of the Nigerian Police Force has initiated a conflict resolution mechanism to secure a ‘ceasefire’ from warring cult group leaders in the State, warning that further conflict and killings would lead to automatic arrest and prosecution of the identified leaders.
Cult related clashes, had resulted to the killing of Seven persons in the last one week along the Igbogene , Amarata, Swali and Ekeki axis of the State capital, as a result of the struggle for control of share of revenue from the newly established State Transport Terminal located at Igbogene.
Three youths of the same parents were shot dead in the bloodshed.
It was also gathered that at the Igbogene axis, where the Bus terminal is located, it was gathered that it is under the control of the Greenlanders cult group, but other cult groups such as Icelanders, Vikings, Bobos and Dee-bams were struggling to have a share of the expected revenues.
Our correspondent further gathered that the State Commissioner of Police, Francis Izu, who was miffed by the rising cases of killings, ordered the tactical team of Operation Puff Adder led by CSP Chris Nwaogbo to invite all the leaders of the cult groups for a meeting to resolve the matter.
It was also gathered that the leaders of the cult groups, after declining an earlier invitation out of fear of the tactical team, approached the top echelon of the police to meet with the State Commissioner of Police over the issue.
At the meeting, which started on Monday and ended on Tuesday, about ten heads of cult groups in the state, agreed that ” forthwith, all cases of violence and killings must stop. They also agreed to send messages to all their foot soldiers on the agreement. And submitted that the police should hold any leader of any cult group identified in any further violence responsible”
A source with the top echelon of the State Police Command said the undertaking was signed to bring a halt to the killings and bloodshed,” but investigation into individuals responsible for the killings is ongoing and they will be brought to book.”
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