The Bayelsa State Police Command has directed its officers to intensify operations against cult groups and warned their members, sponsors, and collaborators that they would be arrested and prosecuted. This move follows renewed cult violence in Yenagoa, the state capital, which has reportedly claimed at least three lives in three days. The police are working to restore calm in the area.
The Commissioner of Police, Ajao Saka Adewale, ordered Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) and tactical commanders to step up patrols in vulnerable areas and identify emerging threats. They have been tasked with acting promptly on credible intelligence about planned clashes, initiation ceremonies, and recruitment. This directive aims to prevent further violence and protect residents.
According to reports, at least three people have been killed in the renewed violence. In one incident, a woman, said to be the mother of a leader of one of the rival groups, reportedly lost a hand while attempting to protect her son, who was subsequently killed in the Agudama area of Yenagoa. The incidents have raised concerns among residents.
The police command’s spokesperson, DSP Musa Mohammed, stated that the police are strengthening engagement with community leaders to identify tensions before they escalate. Officers have been directed to respond swiftly to attacks, secure affected areas, investigate those responsible, and prevent retaliatory violence. The police are working to maintain peace in the area.
The Bayelsa State Secret Cults/Societies and Similar Activities (Prohibition) Law, 2012, as amended in 2018, prohibits membership and sponsorship of secret cults and provides criminal penalties upon conviction. The police command warned that it would not spare anyone found to have organised, financed, facilitated, or participated in cult-related crimes, irrespective of their status or influence.
The police urged parents and guardians to warn their children and wards against cult involvement, while calling on residents to report planned attacks, recruitment drives, and other suspicious activities to the nearest police station. Residents are also cautioned against reprisal attacks, harbouring suspects, or spreading unverified information capable of escalating tensions.
The police command assured residents that due process would be followed and that suspects would be prosecuted where investigations establish sufficient evidence. The goal is to bring perpetrators to justice and maintain peace in Bayelsa State.
Key points
- The Bayelsa State Police Command has ordered intensified operations against cult groups.
- At least three people have been killed in the renewed cult violence in Yenagoa.
- The police are strengthening engagement with community leaders to identify tensions before they escalate.
