January 18, (THEWILL) – Commercial activities in Amarata, a suburb of Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, were brought to a standstill Friday night and early Saturday morning, as suspected cultists engaged in a revenge mission. The incident followed the killing of a young man, prompting a violent response from his group.
On Friday night, around 9 p.m., the victim, known as Frank, or “Akiman”, was fatally shot on Punch Road in Amarata. Witnesses reported that Frank was trailed and ambushed by a group of over six armed men, suspected to be members of a rival cult.
The attackers initially shot Frank in the arm. When he attempted to flee, they pursued him to a corner and executed him with a revolver shot to the head
They reportedly shot into the air to scare residents who ran for their lives, with some abandoning their wares and stores.
The police arrived to recover the victim’s body, but tensions escalated early Saturday morning. A group associated with the deceased took to the streets, armed with guns, machetes, and other weapons, chanting war songs in an apparent act of retaliation.
Groups of youths wielding machetes attacked another young man, whose condition remains unknown, creating further panic and fear among residents. Shops were shut, and many people who were out early fled for safety as the armed youths openly defied any challenge.
The police arrived in their vans after the attackers had dispersed, restoring a temporary calm to the area.
A reliable source said the ongoing war may not be unconnected to the recent clashes between rival cults in Igbogene, a gateway town in Yenagoa local government area, which has claimed five lives.
A resident, who requested anonymity, attributed the Igbogene cult clash to a struggle for control over a newly constructed multi-million-naira motor park. He urged the government to intervene, highlighting that this was just one of many such incidents.
When contacted for comment, the spokesperson for the Bayelsa State Police Command did not respond to phone calls or messages.
Amos Okioma is a Correspondent at THEWILL
