Bayelsa Cult Clash Leaves Five Feared Dead As Police Order Crackdown

Five people are feared dead following renewed clashes between rival cult groups in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, as the Commissioner of Police, Ajao Adewale, ordered intensified operations against cultism and related violence.

The clashes, which reportedly resumed on Friday, allegedly involved members of the Bobos and Greenlanders cult groups, with incidents recorded in Agudama, Obele and the Back of St. Peters areas of Yenagoa. The renewed violence represents a breach of a peace accord previously brokered among cult groups by the former leadership of the Bayelsa State Police Command.

Residents also expressed concern that the clashes could undermine an existing understanding between members of the Greenlanders and Icelanders groups. One source said the first reported killing occurred in Agudama, where a youth was allegedly attacked and beheaded.

Another cult member was reportedly shot in the buttocks and rescued by a neighbour. He was said to be in critical condition. Residents said the Bobos and Greenlanders had remained rivals despite previous efforts to broker peace between cult groups. Checks around Imgbi Road, Ovom and Obele, identified as areas associated with cult activity, showed a noticeable absence of youths suspected of involvement in cult-related activities.

A correspondent monitoring the situation observed that some youths had reportedly gone into hiding amid fears of arrest or attacks by rival groups. Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Ajao Adewale, has directed intensified operations against cultism and related violence across the state.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Police Command said Adewale had ordered Divisional Police Officers and tactical commanders to increase patrols in vulnerable areas. He also directed them to identify emerging threats and act promptly on credible intelligence concerning planned clashes, initiation ceremonies and recruitment activities. The command said it was strengthening engagement with community leaders to identify tensions early and prevent further violence.

It added that officers would secure the scene of any attack, investigate those responsible and take measures to prevent retaliatory violence. Adewale warned cult groups against attacks and reprisals, saying the police would pursue both members and their sponsors.

“There will be no sacred cows,” the commissioner said. He warned that anyone involved in organising, financing, facilitating or participating in cult-related crimes would be dealt with according to the law.

The command said it would investigate suspected offenders regardless of their status or influence and prosecute them where evidence warranted. It also reminded residents that the Bayelsa State Secret Cults/Societies and Similar Activities (Prohibition) Law, 2012, as amended in 2018, prohibits membership of and sponsorship of secret cults.

The police urged parents and guardians to caution their children and wards against involvement in cult activities. Residents were also advised to report planned attacks, recruitment activities and other cult-related incidents to the nearest police station.

The command warned against reprisal attacks, harbouring suspects, and spreading rumours that could escalate tensions. It urged residents to report threats promptly and avoid taking the law into their own