Three people were slain when suspected cultists stormed the Igbogene Community in the Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.
The attack on Wednesday night, about 8 p.m., is the first in nearly a year, following the state government’s revamp of its security infrastructure, including the founding of the Community Security Corps.
The armed cultists, numbering around ten, murdered Donaldson Mison, 28, Addy Mulan, 27, and Greenboy Dudella, 29, all male members of the Igbogene community.
One of the victims is said to be the son of a previous leader of the neighbourhood vigilante organisation.
A community source told a reporter on Thursday that, “The cult boys, numbering about 10 and armed with dangerous weapons, invaded our community at about 8:00 pm. Many residents escaped to safety and locked their doors.
“The first person shot dead was the son of the former head of the community vigilante group.
“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,” he said.
There are speculations that the attack was a result of rivalry between two cult groups identified as Bobos and Greenlanders.
According to the source, everyone involved was an Igbogene community resident or indigene.
While the state police headquarters stated that three people were killed, the community reported that two died in the attack, with the third seeking treatment for a gunshot wound.
Mr. Ezekiel Igbenivie, the youth president of the Igbogene community, stated that all those involved had fled, although one of those shot was still alive.
“He is being treated.” The survivor, who is believed to be a member of the Greenlander sect, was shot by mistake but was flown to an unidentified hospital for treatment.
Another source stated that the arrival of police squads, including Operation Doo Akpo, Anti-Kidnapping, and the Rapid Response Team, helped to calm the situation.
Mr. Musa Mohammed, the spokesman for the Bayelsa Police Command, acknowledged the event and said an inquiry was underway.
“Yes, the incident took place. The police are investigating it,” he said.
