Odita Sunday 
By Odita Sunday
Four people have been killed in a wave of cult-related violence across parts of Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, with police arresting 23 suspects and recovering firearms, ammunition and other items during a crackdown on the groups involved.
The violence, involving attacks and reprisals between rival cult groups, has affected communities including Igbogene, Onopa, Ovom, Agudama, Amarata, Swali and Akenfa, according to the state Commissioner of Police, Ajao Saka Adewale.
Speaking at a press briefing on the police response, Adewale said the arrests followed intelligence-led operations and increased patrols in areas identified as flashpoints for cult-related activities.
Among those arrested were suspects allegedly linked to cult groups and found with firearms. The police said operatives of the Anti-Cultism Unit arrested two men during operations conducted between September 23 and October 5.
One of them, identified as 24-year-old Tarimie James from Ovom community, was arrested near St. Anglican Church in the area. The police alleged that he belonged to the Icelander Confraternity and recovered a locally fabricated Beretta pistol from him.
Another suspect, Ezeikiel Joel, 24, from Igbogene, was reportedly found with an automatic pump-action gun, other weapons and a drum allegedly used during cult meetings. The police said he confessed to belonging to the Kue Klus Klan’s Men (KKK) Confraternity.
In another operation on October 5, operatives of the command’s Violent Crime Response Unit arrested five suspects over alleged cult-related attacks and reprisals that left some people with life-threatening injuries.
The suspects were identified as Zaidamun Paul, Anthony Okorie, Godsgift Angel, Richman Kudi and Victor Kelsy. According to the police, a pistol, axes, cutlasses and knives were recovered during the operation.
The command also reported recovering a locally made revolver pistol and three live 9mm rounds at Ugbogene on October 6.
Police said the suspected owner abandoned the weapon and escaped through a nearby swamp after sighting officers. The command said efforts were ongoing to track him down.
The crackdown continued on October 7 and 8, when police arrested eight more suspects during operations in Akenfa, Igbogene and Swali over alleged cultism and breaches of public peace.
One of the suspects, 30-year-old Baratua-Pre Bara, was arrested in Akenfa. The police described him as an alleged second-in-command of the Icelanders Confraternity in Yenagoa and said he was expected to appear in court on Monday, October 12.
At Igbogene, operatives arrested Funkuro Bereh, 25, and Kelvin Adamu, 28, whom the police linked to the Bobos Confraternity.
Those arrested in Swali included Vincent Ikiye, 20; Benjamin Akeno, 26; Esuaye IkeClear, 30; Gift Torie, 23; and Job Simon, 32.
The police said the suspects confessed to belonging to the Bobos Confraternity. The allegations have not been established in court.
Items recovered during the operations included two cans of nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, 17 bottles of a substance described by the police as codeine, and a bag of dried leaves suspected to be cannabis.
Adewale credited officers of the command, particularly the Doo Akpo Joint Task Force and other tactical teams, with helping to tackle the violence.
He also pointed to cooperation from transport unions, traditional rulers, community development committees and youth leaders as an important part of the police response.
The commissioner said the command would continue intelligence-led operations and patrols to prevent further violence, adding that suspects would be pursued within the law.
He urged residents to report suspicious activities and provide credible information to security agencies, stressing that public cooperation was essential to restoring peace in affected communities.
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