Four persons including a commercial sex worker were yesterday shot dead in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital following renewed clash between two rival cult groups based in the State owned Niger Delta University (NDU), Amassoma in the Southern Ijaw Local Council area of the State.
The renewed clash, occurred between 5pm and 8.30pm along the Azikoro and the D.S.P Alameiseigha way (popularly known as Hospital road), causing some form of stampede and a hurried closure of most business outlets in the area.
Our correspondent gathered that trouble started at about 4pm when a 23year old Student of the Niger Delta University (NDU) was shot by suspected cult members following an argument. The 23-year old student, who also matriculated on Saturday during the university’s matriculation ceremony for the 2011/2012 academic session, was shot at close range on Sunday by his assailant near a fast-food joint along Azikoro Road.
Eyewitness account said that the victim was standing with one of his friends near the gate of the fast food outlet when the gun-toting cultist walked close and opened fire on the upper region of his ribs about 5pm Sunday.
Channels Television however gathered that the suspected cult group involved in the shooting subsequently moved into the D.S.P Alameiseigha way area of the private Hospital and unleashed more mayhem.
Sources claimed that the cultist were dressed in Police Uniform and opened fire indiscriminately.
Contacted on the development, the spokesman of the Bayelsa State Police Command, Mr. Emokpae Eguavoen confirmed the clash and said though only two corpses were discovered at the scene of the shooting, six persons have been arrested in connection with killing,”
According to him, “the State command has launched a manhunt for cultists involved in the rivalry clashes and would soon get them”
Meanwhile the Bayelsa State Government, in reaction to the incident, has issued a statement through the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, saying that the unfortunate incident has been brought to their notice and the state government is determined to stamp out crimes and illegality in the state.
“Bayelsa State Government is working closely with the various security agencies to get to the root of the matter” the statement read.
Measures aimed at putting a complete stop to the criminal activities of these various cult groups as well as the move to clamp down on all forms of crime and criminal tendencies perpetrated by those considered to be enemies of the state will be unveiled in the coming days. Government is set to unveil its Task Force on Security. This is in keeping with the earlier promise made by the Dickson administration that it will ensure a zero tolerance for all forms of crime and criminality”