In a major crackdown on rising cult-related violence in Bayelsa State, the police have arrested 17 suspected cultists linked to the brutal killing of two recent graduates of the Niger Delta University (NDU), Amassoma. The suspects were apprehended late Friday night along the volatile Tombia-Amassoma Road by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), led by the formidable CSP Bishop Elemide.
Shockingly, among those arrested are four alleged internet fraudsters, commonly known as “Yahoo Boys,” accused of masterminding the killings by funding the violent operation. The sinister nexus between cybercrime and cult violence appears to have deepened, raising serious concerns among residents and authorities alike.
A senior police officer revealed to our correspondent that the arrests followed a prompt response to a police radio alert detailing the double homicide, which occurred in the Gbarantoru area, a hotspot for cult activities. In a dramatic interception, the RRS halted a suspicious Suzuki minibus loaded with more than 13 young men—some bearing blood-stained clothing and machetes.
“There were visible bloodstains on a few of the suspects and the weapons found in the vehicle,” the officer said. “It became clear that these were not ordinary commuters. On further interrogation, we learned that they had fled the crime scene in two buses, one of which broke down, forcing them to switch vehicles.”
Preliminary investigations suggest that the assailants are affiliated with the deadly Vikings confraternity, a feared cult group with a history of violent turf wars. According to police intelligence, the four Yahoo Boys allegedly provided financial support and logistics for the deadly mission that ended the lives of the two graduates.
Bayelsa State Police Command’s spokesperson, Musa Mohammed, confirmed the arrests, stating that a comprehensive investigation is ongoing. “Yes, some major arrests have been made by the RRS, and we are working diligently to determine the level of involvement of each suspect,” he said.
Conflicting reports have emerged over the identities of the slain graduates. While some sources allege that they were members of the Neo Black Movement (popularly known as Black Axe or Aye), others claim they belonged to a rival faction known as the Bobos cult group.
The aftermath of the killings has sent shockwaves through the state’s educational institutions and social spaces. Members of the Vikings cult group are said to have gone into hiding, fearing retaliation from rival groups. Bars, lounges, and nightclubs in Yenagoa have witnessed unusual, tense movements of intimidating young men believed to be on the hunt for rivals.
In the past week, parts of Yenagoa have echoed with sporadic gunfire, a grim indicator of the brewing gang war. On Sunday morning, the usually bustling Swali Ultra-Modern Market descended into chaos during a fierce gun battle between rival cult factions. One person was reportedly gunned down in the fracas, leaving traders and shoppers fleeing for safety.
While police sources offer conflicting accounts—some attributing the gunfire to a pursuit of cult suspects in a suspicious vehicle, others confirming another turf war—it is clear that the city remains on edge.
Speaking under anonymity, a high-ranking officer assured the public that the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Francis Idu, is personally coordinating efforts to dismantle cult networks and restore normalcy. “We are leaving no stone unturned. The Commissioner has intensified efforts to arrest and prosecute those behind these killings. We’ve also received assurances from the state government that there will be no political interference in the ongoing investigation,” the officer stated.
With the heat on cult groups and the spotlight now firmly on the interplay between cyber fraud and ritual violence, Bayelsa’s security architecture faces a stern test. Residents remain hopeful that justice will be served—and swiftly.
PIONEER NEWS 