January 20, (THEWILL) – The Bayelsa State Command of the Nigerian Police Force has initiated a conflict resolution tactics to secure a ceasefire from warring cult groups, warning that further conflict and killings will lead to automatic arrest and prosecutions of identified leaders.
The recent cult clashes, which led to the deaths of seven people within the past week in areas such as Igbogene, Amarata, Swali, and Ekeki in the state capital, were fuelled by a struggle for control over revenue shares from the newly established State Transport Terminal located in Igbogene.
THEWILL gathered that the Igbogene area, where the bus terminal is situated, was controlled by the Greenlanders cult group. However, rival groups like the Icelanders, Vikings, Bobos, and Dee-bams were vying for a share of the anticipated revenue from the terminal.
The state Commissioner of Police, Francis Izu, who was angered by the rising cases of killings, ordered the tactical team of the Operation Puff Adder, led by CSP Chris Nwaogbo, to invite all the leaders of the cult group and issued them a caution.
However, the leaders of the cult groups, after declining the invitation out of fear of the tactical team, approached the top echelon of the police to meet with the State Commissioner of Police over the issue.
At the meeting, which started on Monday and ended on Tuesday, about ten heads of cult groups in the state, agreed that, “forthwith, all cases of violence and killings stop. They also agreed to send messages to all their foot soldiers on the agreement. And submitted that the police should hold any leader of any cult group identified in any further violence responsible.”
A source with the top echelon of the State Police Command said the undertaking was signed to bring a halt to the killings and bloodshed, but the investigation into individuals responsible for the killings is ongoing and they will be brought to book.
Amos Okioma is a Correspondent at THEWILL
