Police confirms death of suspected cultist in rival clash in Bayelsa

Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa

The Police in Bayelsa have confirmed the death of a suspected cultist when two rival cult groups clashed in Yenagoa, Bayelsa capital.

It was gathered that the clash left many injured as machete, knives, axes and other dangerous weapons were freely used in the violent clash.

Spokesman for the Police in Bayelsa, Asinim Butswat, a Superintendent of Police confirmed that one person was killed during the clash in Obele area of the state capital.

Butswat said the corpse of the person that was killed had been recovered and deposited at the morgue.

“The clash took place in Down Yenagoa. It was a rival cult clash that claimed the life of one person and investigation is ongoing.

“We cannot establish the cult groups that were involved until after arrests have been made,” he said.

A resident at Obele who does not wish to be named narrated that some suspected cult members assembled in large numbers from within Yenagoa metropolis and headed for Obele where the bloody clash ensued.

The resident who pleaded to remain anonymous for fear of being victimised by the cult groups said that during the clash an unidentified man was killed, and some other persons were injured.

According to him, on their way to ‘unholy assemble’ at Obele, the hoodlums who were armed with dangerous weapons, shut down business activities at Amarata and other adjoining areas.

Their indiscriminate shootings caused anxiety amongst residents who ran for their lives while business outfits were compelled to close shops.

He said after they had succeeded in creating panic in Amarata area, the suspected cultists who operated with impunity, left the area, and stormed Obele where they killed a resident and injured other persons.