Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Bayelsa State Police have arrested a pastor and an alleged cult member over an apparent assassination plot targeting another cleric, authorities confirmed on Friday, January 30, 2026.
Operatives of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit of the Bayelsa State Police Command apprehended 59‑year‑old Pastor Elijah Oro, originally from Ozoro in Delta State, and 21‑year‑old Samuel Daniel from Nembe Ogbolomabiri Community, Nembe Local Government Area, during a counter‑criminal operation. Police allege Oro recruited Daniel, a member of the Greenlanders confraternity cult, to carry out the planned killing of a rival prophet in the state.
According to the Command’s public relations officer, DSP Musa Mohammed, the arrests followed credible intelligence on the alleged assassination plot. Officers reportedly intercepted Daniel at the residence of the targeted prophet, at which point he confessed membership in the Greenlanders cult and admitted that Pastor Oro contracted him for the attack. Police said investigations are still ongoing to determine the full motive and any additional participants in the alleged conspiracy.
No official details about the identity of the intended victim have been released pending further inquiries, and authorities have not formally charged either suspect. The Bayelsa Police Command issued a public assurance of its commitment to protecting lives and property and urged citizens to share timely, credible information to aid ongoing investigations.
The incident has drawn concern in the state, reflecting broader anxieties over the infiltration of cult violence into community and religious disputes. While cult‑related clashes and violent crimes have been documented in Bayelsa previously, including cult attacks resulting in loss of life, the alleged use of a religious leader to orchestrate such violence marks a disturbing escalation in the complexity of local security challenges.
Authorities are expected to provide further updates as the investigation progresses and formal charges are filed.
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