Two Amassoma graduates from Niger Delta University were hacked to death by suspected cultists in the Gbarantoru area of Bayelsa State.
One of the victims was identified as Ayaokpo Sinclair of the Tombia community, while the identity of the second victim had yet to be established at the time of reporting this story.
Both were apparently awaiting their NYSC call-up when they were attacked about 11 p.m. on Thursday.
Mr Tolummbofa Jonathan, Commander of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria in Bayelsa State, revealed on Friday that the two young graduates were out shopping in the evening when a group of guys arrived in a vehicle and began shouting, “See them.”
Jonathan reported that after chanting “aye, aye,” a cult slogan, the deceased were attacked and hacked with machetes.
One of the victims escaped and died in a nearby creek, while the other was killed instantly.
He said, “Though the one that jumped into the creek had managed to swim out, the driver of the vehicle that brought the cultists later accosted and identified him as his relation and tried to save him, but when the attackers came back to the car and saw him, they overpowered the driver and cut him until he became unconscious.
“I tried with my men to revive him by taking him to the community health centre for first aid. In the process at the clinic, he also gave up. So, the police were invited, and the bodies were deposited at the morgue.”
Jonathan stated that the police have launched an inquiry into the incident and arrested the driver of the vehicle that transported the hoodlums to the community, while they are tracking down the other fleeing suspects.
When contacted, Mr Musa Mohammed, spokesman for the Bayelsa State Police Command, confirmed the occurrence, saying some suspects had been arrested in connection with the homicide and that an investigation was underway at the State Criminal Investigative Department.
“The State Criminal Investigation Department has commenced an investigation into the matter to arrest the fleeing suspects,” he stated.
