Agorehmi Bright, Reporting
The Bayelsa State Police Command has arrested 23 suspected cultists and recovered firearms, ammunition and suspected illicit substances following a wave of cult-related violence that claimed four lives in Yenagoa, the state capital.
The attacks and retaliatory clashes reportedly occurred in Igbogene, Onopa, Ovom, Agudama, Amarata, Swali and Akenfa communities, raising concerns over public safety and security in the affected areas.
The Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State, CP Ajao Saka Adewale, disclosed this during a press briefing on the command’s operations against cultism and other violent crimes.
Adewale said the arrests followed intelligence-driven operations, coordinated raids and increased police patrols across identified flashpoints and motor parks between 23 September and 8 October 2026.
He said the suspects were arrested in connection with cultism, attempted murder, unlawful possession of firearms and breaches of public peace. According to him, the operations also led to the recovery of several weapons and other exhibits allegedly linked to the activities of rival cult groups.
The commissioner said operatives of the anti-cultism unit arrested two suspected cultists during coordinated operations conducted between 23 September and 5 October 2026.
One of the suspects, identified as Tarimie James, 24, from Ovom community, was arrested near St Anglican Church in the community.
The police commissioner said James allegedly confessed to being a member of the Icelanders confraternity, adding that a locally fabricated Beretta pistol was recovered from him. He said the suspect was being held pending trial.
Another suspect, Ezekiel Joel, 24, from Igbogene community, was arrested with an automatic pump-action gun, other weapons and a drum allegedly used during cult meetings. Adewale said Joel allegedly confessed to belonging to the Kue Klux Klan’s Men (KKK) confraternity.
The commissioner further disclosed that operatives of the violent crime response unit arrested five suspects on 5 October during an operation aimed at restoring normalcy to communities affected by cult-related violence.
The suspects were identified as Zaidamun Paul, Anthony Okorie, Godsgift Angel, Richman Kudi and Victor Kelsy. According to Adewale, the suspects were arrested in connection with attacks and retaliatory violence that left some residents with life-threatening injuries. He said a Beretta pistol, axes, cutlasses and knives were recovered during the operation.
The police commissioner also disclosed that operatives recovered a locally made revolver pistol and three rounds of live 9mm ammunition at Igbogene on 6 October. He said the weapon was abandoned by a suspect who fled into a nearby swamp upon sighting police operatives.
The commissioner explained that the suspect was already on the command’s watchlist in connection with recent cult-related incidents in the area. He said efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspect.
Adewale said eight additional suspects were arrested during joint intelligence-led operations in Akenfa, Igbogene and Swali communities between 7 and 8 October.
One of the suspects, identified as Baratua-Pre Bara, 30, from Ogbia Local Government Area, was arrested in Akenfa.
Furthermore, the commissioner said Bara allegedly confessed to being the second-in-command of the Icelanders confraternity in Yenagoa. He added that the suspect was scheduled to be arraigned on Monday, 12 October 2026.
In Igbogene, police arrested Funkuro Bereh, 25, from Ekeremor Local Government Area, and Kelvin Adamu, 28, from Igbogene community.
Adewale said Bereh was arrested at Igbogene motor park and allegedly confessed to belonging to the Bobos Confraternity. Adamu, who was also arrested at the motor park, allegedly admitted membership of the same confraternity, according to the commissioner.
In Swali, four suspects were arrested during a joint raid, while another suspect was also apprehended, bringing the total number of arrests in the latest operation to eight.
They were identified as Vincent Ikiye, 20, from Gbarain in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area; Benjamin Akeno, 26, from Okpoma in Brass Local Government Area; Esuaye Ikeclear, 30, a musician from Famgbe community in Yenagoa; Gift Torie, 23, from Ikolo community; and Job Simon, 32, a businessman from Gbarain in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.
The commissioner said Ikiye was handed over to the police by community youths during the operation and allegedly confessed to belonging to the Bobos confraternity. He said Akeno allegedly admitted being initiated into the group on 15 May 2026, while Ikeclear allegedly claimed to have joined the group in September 2010.
Torie and Simon were also alleged to have confessed to membership of the Bobos confraternity. Simon, whom the police said was known by the nickname ‘VIP’, was scheduled to be arraigned on 12 October, according to the commissioner.
The police said the arrests formed part of efforts to dismantle cult networks and prevent further violence in the state capital.
Adewale said the operations yielded a substantial cache of weapons and substances suspected to be illicit drugs.
The items listed in the command’s briefing included firearms, live ammunition, cutlasses, battle axes, a drum, nitrous oxide, codeine-containing substances and dried leaves suspected to be cannabis.
The commissioner listed the recovered items as including eight firearms, nine rounds of live 9mm ammunition, five cutlasses, two battle axes, one drum, two cans of nitrous oxide, 17 bottles of a substance identified as codeine and a bag of dried leaves suspected to be cannabis.
He also listed 20 cartridges among the recovered exhibits. The command said the items were recovered during the various operations targeting suspected cultists and other criminal activities.
The commissioner confirmed that four people had died as a result of the recent cult-related violence in the state. He expressed concern over the activities of criminal groups and warned that the police would intensify efforts to prevent further attacks and retaliatory killings.
Adewale said the command would continue to pursue suspects and dismantle criminal networks operating in the state, while ensuring that investigations and prosecutions were conducted within the provisions of the law.
The police chief commended officers and men of the Bayelsa State Police Command, particularly personnel of the Doo Akpo Joint Task Force and other tactical and operational units, for their efforts in tackling cultism and violent crime.
He also acknowledged the cooperation of community stakeholders, including tricycle operators’ unions, the National Union of Road Transport Workers, traditional rulers, community development committees and youth leaders across Yenagoa.
According to him, recent engagements with the groups have strengthened trust, intelligence-sharing and cooperation between the police and residents. He said the arrests demonstrated the importance of community participation in crime prevention, noting that security could not be left to law enforcement agencies alone.
Adewale assured residents that the command would not allow criminal groups to undermine peace and security in Bayelsa State. He said the police would sustain intelligence-led operations, increase visibility patrols and strengthen partnerships with communities to prevent further cult-related violence.
The commissioner urged residents to remain vigilant and provide credible information to security agencies, warning against protecting or collaborating with criminal elements. He appealed to members of the public to support ongoing security operations, stressing that collective action was necessary to restore lasting peace to affected communities.
