Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Carmen Diego
Deadly cult violence has once again shaken Bayelsa State in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta, leaving at least three people dead in a renewed confrontation between rival groups and deepening fears among residents of further reprisals. Police authorities have confirmed that an investigation is underway and that efforts are ongoing to track down suspects who fled the scene following the latest outbreak.
The violence, which occurred in parts of Yenagoa, the state capital, is believed to be linked to long-running hostilities between two rival cult factions commonly referred to as the Boboos and the Greenlanders. Over recent weeks, tensions between the groups have escalated, resulting in multiple fatalities, injuries, and widespread anxiety across several communities.
The Bayelsa State Police Command acknowledged the incident and confirmed that security operatives have launched a manhunt. The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Musa Muhammad, speaking by telephone on Monday, said the command had commenced a formal investigation. He assured residents that security agencies were actively pursuing those responsible and expressed confidence that arrests would follow. While declining to provide operational details, he emphasized that law enforcement would not relent until the perpetrators were brought to justice.
Residents in affected neighborhoods described scenes of chaos as gunshots reportedly rang out during confrontations between suspected members of the rival cults. Although the precise circumstances of the clashes remain under investigation, community sources indicated that the violence may have been retaliatory in nature, linked to earlier killings attributed to the same factions.
Two weeks prior to the most recent confrontation, a 30-year-old man identified simply as Ebi was reportedly decapitated in the Yenegue area of Yenagoa. He was alleged to have been affiliated with the Greenlanders group. Local sources claimed the attack was carried out by suspected members of the Boboos cult, an incident that significantly heightened tensions across the capital city. The gruesome killing shocked residents and was widely viewed as a trigger for the latest cycle of reprisals.
Since that killing, sources suggest that at least six people may have lost their lives in cult-related incidents in Yenagoa and surrounding communities. However, authorities have not publicly confirmed the cumulative death toll. Police officials have indicated that investigations are ongoing to establish accurate casualty figures and identify those directly involved.
The identities of the three most recent victims have not yet been officially released. Witnesses reported that several young men sustained injuries during the confrontations, though the extent of those injuries remains unclear. Some of the wounded are believed to have sought treatment in private facilities, a common occurrence in cult-related violence where victims often avoid public hospitals due to fear of arrest or reprisals.
In the immediate aftermath of the clashes, residents in some affected areas reportedly fled their homes temporarily, fearing further attacks. Commercial activities were disrupted, with shops and small businesses closing early amid heightened security concerns. Community members described an atmosphere of uncertainty, with many expressing frustration that recurring cult violence continues to threaten lives and livelihoods.
One resident, who requested anonymity for security reasons, characterized the situation as a continuation of an alarming pattern that has plagued parts of Bayelsa in recent months. According to him, youth involvement in cult groups has intensified, with retaliatory killings becoming increasingly brazen. He called for stronger preventive measures and more visible policing in known flashpoints.
Bayelsa State, like several other states in Nigeria’s South-South region, has struggled for years with cultism, a phenomenon that often intersects with political rivalry, criminality, and community disputes. While some cult groups originated decades ago within university environments as confraternities, many have since evolved into violent networks engaged in armed clashes, extortion, and other criminal activities.
Security analysts note that cult-related violence tends to surge during periods of local political tension or economic hardship, when unemployed youth are more vulnerable to recruitment. In oil-producing communities where grievances over resource control and unemployment remain acute, cult groups have at times been used as instruments of political intimidation or territorial control.
The renewed violence in Yenagoa has prompted appeals from community leaders, who are urging restraint and dialogue. Several elders and youth advocates have reportedly convened informal meetings in affected areas, encouraging young people to renounce violence and resolve disputes peacefully. Religious leaders have also called for calm, emphasizing the need for collective responsibility in preventing further bloodshed.
Civil society organizations operating in the state have reiterated calls for a comprehensive strategy that goes beyond reactive policing. They argue that while arrests are necessary, long-term solutions require sustained youth engagement programs, job creation initiatives, and improved intelligence gathering. According to local activists, previous crackdowns have yielded temporary reductions in violence but have failed to dismantle the networks that sustain cult activity.
The Bayelsa State Government has yet to issue a detailed public statement on the latest killings, though security sources indicate that coordination between state authorities and federal security agencies has been strengthened in recent weeks. Joint patrols and targeted surveillance operations are reportedly being intensified in identified hotspots.
For many residents, however, assurances of investigations and manhunts offer limited comfort. The recurrence of cult clashes has eroded confidence in the ability of authorities to provide lasting security. Parents express concern about the vulnerability of teenagers and young adults to recruitment, while business owners fear the economic consequences of continued instability.
As investigations proceed, police officials have urged members of the public to provide credible information that could assist in apprehending suspects. They have also warned that anyone found harboring individuals linked to the violence will face prosecution.
The latest killings underscore the persistent challenge posed by cult-related violence in parts of southern Nigeria. While the immediate priority remains the arrest of those responsible for the recent deaths, broader questions linger about how to break the cycle of retaliation that has repeatedly claimed young lives in Bayelsa’s capital.
For now, Yenagoa remains on edge, with residents watching closely to see whether decisive action by security forces can restore calm and prevent yet another round of bloodshed.
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