The Bayelsa State Police Command has arrested 23 suspected cultists in relation to cult violence, attempted murder and breach of public peace in Yenagoa, the state capital. The state’s police commissioner, Ajao Saka Adewale, made this known during a briefing in Yenagoa. He stated that four people had been killed in recent cult-related attacks and reprisals from rival gangs.
The incidents were recorded in places like Igbogene, Onopa, Ovom, Agudama, Amarata, Swali, and Akenfa. The command’s swift, intelligence-driven response led to the arrest of the suspects. Adewale noted that the operations carried out by the Anti-Cultism Unit, Violent Crime Unit, among other teams of the command, led to the recovery of firearms, ammunition, substances suspected to be illicit drugs and dangerous weapons.
He said two suspects were arrested during a coordinated operation between September 23 and October 5th. One of the suspects, identified as Tarime James, was arrested near St. Anglican Church in Ovo Adewale further disclosed that another suspect, Ezikiel Joel, 24,was arrested with a pump-action gun and other weapons used during cult meetings. Police arrested 5 other suspects on October 5th.
The suspects were identified as Zaidamun Paul, Anthony Okorie, God’sgift Angel, Richman Kudi, and Victor Kelsy. Beretta pistol, axes, cutlasses and knives were recovered during the operations. Eight other suspects were arrested during joint operations conducted on 7 and 8 October in Akenfa, Igbogene and Swali communities. Among them was Baratua-Pre Bara, 30, who confessed membership in the Icelanders Confraternity in Yenagoa.
Other suspects include Funkuro Bereh, Kelvin Adamu, Benjamin Akeno, Esuaye Ikeclear, Gift Torie, and Job Simon, all of whom were arrested during operations in Swali and environs. The suspects reportedly confessed membership in various confraternities. The state police force urged parents, monarchs, community leaders and youths to cooperate and support the campaign against cultism, particularly by discouraging youths from joining confraternities.
He commended the community youths for cooperating with the police force during operations. The command vows to sustain intelligence-driven operations, visibility patrols, and community engagements to curtail cult-related violence.
