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A recent cult attack in Bayelsa State resulted in the deaths of two graduates from Niger Delta University (NDU). Seventeen suspected cultists were arrested in connection with the killings.
IREPORT247NEW reported a devastating incident has occurred in the Gbarantoru community of Yenagoa Local Government Area in Bayelsa State, where two graduates were hacked to death by suspected cultists.
The victims, one identified as Ayaokpo Sinclair from Tombia community, were brutally attacked around 11 pm on Thursday.
According to Mr. Tolummbofa Jonathan, Commander of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria in Bayelsa State, the incident unfolded when a group of boys arrived in the community in a vehicle, shouting “See them” and chanting “aye, aye,” believed to be their cult slogan. The cultists then attacked the graduates, inflicting machete cuts on them.
According to police sources, the arrests were made possible by a stop-and-search operation conducted by the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) along the Tombia-Amasoma road.
The police received a radio alert about the incident and set up a roadblock. When a Suzuki minibus was stopped, the officers found over 13 individuals inside, some with bloodstains on their clothing and machetes stained with blood.
The suspects allegedly traveled to the crime scene in two minibuses, abandoning one that developed a fault during their escape.
The police believe the suspects are members of the notorious Vikings cult group and that four individuals, known as “yahoo boys,” sponsored the killing.
The spokesman of the Bayelsa State Police Command, Musa Mohammed confirmed the arrests and stated that the level of involvement of each suspect is under investigation.
There are varying opinions among residents about the affiliations of the two murdered graduates, with some believing they were members of the Neo Black Movement (Black Axe Aye) and others claiming they were part of the Bobos cult group.
The incident has led to fear among members of the Vikings cult group in the state university and other institutions, who have reportedly gone into hiding due to the possibility of reprisals.
The police are continuing their investigation to uncover more details about the incident.