Olusegun Ariyo
Armed cultists suspected to be members of the Greenlanders, on Wednesday night invaded the Igbogene community, a suburb of Yenagoa, the Bayelsa capital, reportedly killing three persons.
The cultists, numbering about 10 and armed with dangerous weapons, were said to have invaded the community at about 8:00 pm, causing residents to scamper for safety.
A resident, who preferred anonymity, told Newsmen on Thursday that the first person shot dead was the son of the former head of the Community Vigilante Group.
According to him, he was shot close to his house. The second person, who was not a cultist, was shot when he could not disclose the whereabouts of his elder brother.
Investigations show that the attack was sparked off by rivalry between two notorious cult groups, the Bobos and Greenlanders; while the cultists involved in the fight are residents and indigenes of the community.
Also speaking, the Youth President of the Igbogene Community, Mr Ezekiel Igbenivie, who confirmed the development, said those involved had absconded, but “one of the persons shot is still alive and receiving treatment in the hospital.”
The arrival of the Police teams of Operation Door Kapoor Division, the Anti-Kidnapping Squad and the Rapid Response Team calmed down the situation.
The spokesman of the Bayelsa Police Command, DSP Musa Mohammed, who also confirmed the incident, identified those shot as Donaldson Mison, 28; Addy Mulan, 27; and Greenboy Dudella, 29.
