Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Bayelsa State Police Command has arrested 20 suspected cultists as security operations intensify across communities affected by renewed cult-related violence in the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Musa Mohammed, disclosed the development on Thursday, October 8, 2026, saying the arrests followed intensified operations ordered by the Commissioner of Police, CP Ajao Saka Adewale.
According to the police, operations have been carried out in areas including Swali, Akenfa, Down Yenagoa and Agudama, which were identified as vulnerable to cult activities.
Mohammed said the command had so far arrested 20 suspected cultists, adding that the Commissioner would issue a formal statement on the ongoing operations.
The police said several suspected cultists, including individuals described as notorious, had been arrested, while operatives were continuing efforts to locate other suspects.
The crackdown followed renewed cult clashes in parts of Yenagoa over the weekend. Reports put the number of people feared killed in the violence at between three and five, although casualty figures have varied across reports.
The Commissioner directed divisional and tactical teams to intensify patrols, strengthen intelligence gathering and take preventive action against planned clashes, initiation ceremonies and recruitment activities.
The command also urged community leaders and residents to cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information that could help prevent further violence.
The police said it would investigate suspects and prosecute those against whom sufficient evidence is established, in accordance with due process.
Meanwhile, the ongoing operation has generated some controversy in Onopa, where residents protested over the alleged shooting and arrest of a young man during a police operation.
The police dismissed reports that the man had died, saying he was alive and receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa. Allegations by residents concerning the conduct of some officers have not been independently established.
CP Adewale has vowed to sustain the crackdown on cultism and related violence across Bayelsa State, while urging residents to avoid reprisal attacks and report suspicious activities to the police.
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