From, Rhoda Godwin, Yenagoa
Fear and uncertainty have gripped parts of Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, following a wave of cult-related attacks and reprisals that have claimed four lives, leaving residents worried about the safety of their communities.
From Igbogene to Onopa, Ovom, Agudama, Amarata, Swali and Akenfa, the violence has turned some neighbourhoods into flashpoints of deadly confrontations between rival cult groups.
For residents, the reported killings are a painful reminder of how quickly violence can disrupt the peace of a community, threaten innocent lives and leave families to grapple with the consequences.
But as the violence spread across parts of the capital, the Bayelsa State Police Command says it has intensified operations to track down those allegedly involved, recover weapons and prevent further bloodshed.
The police have now arrested 23 suspects in connection with cultism, attempted murder, unlawful possession of firearms and other offences linked to the recent disturbances.
The Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State Command, CP Ajao Saka Adewale, disclosed this during a press briefing on the command’s operations against cult-related violence.
He said the arrests followed intelligence-driven operations, coordinated raids and visibility patrols targeting identified flashpoints and motor parks across Yenagoa.
According to him, the command is determined to prevent criminal groups from taking control of the security situation in the state capital.
Inside the Police Operations
Among those arrested was 24-year-old Tarimie James, from Ovom community, who was apprehended near St. Anglican Church in the community.
Police said a locally fabricated Beretta pistol was recovered from him. The command further alleged that James confessed during a video-recorded interview to belonging to the Icelanders Confraternity.
Another suspect, 24-year-old Ezeikiel Joel, from Igbogene community, was arrested with an automatic pump-action gun, other weapons and a drum allegedly used during cult meetings.
The police said Joel also confessed to belonging to the Kue Klux Klan’s Men, identified in the statement as KKK.
These arrests, according to the command, formed part of coordinated operations conducted by the Anti-Cultism Unit between September 23 and October 5, 2026.
In a separate operation on October 5, operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit arrested five suspects over alleged involvement in attacks and reprisals that reportedly left some victims with life-threatening injuries.
The suspects were identified as Zaidamun Paul, Anthony Okorie, Godsgift Angel, Richman Kudi and Victor Kelsy.
Axes, cutlasses, knives and a Beretta pistol were reportedly recovered during the operation.
The police also recorded a recovery in Ugbogene on October 6, when officers acting on intelligence discovered a locally made revolver pistol and three live 9mm rounds allegedly abandoned by a suspect who fled into a nearby swamp after sighting the operatives.
The command said efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspect.
Motor Parks and Communities Under Watch
The police operations continued on October 7 and 8, with eight additional suspects arrested in Akenfa, Igbogene and Swali communities for alleged cult-related activities and breach of public peace.
In Akenfa, officers arrested 30-year-old Baratua-Pre Bara, whom the police described as the number two member of the Icelanders Confraternity in Yenagoa.
The command said he confessed to the allegation during a video-recorded interview and was expected to be arraigned in court on Monday, October 12.
At Igbogene motor park, 25-year-old Funkuro Bereh, from Ekeremor Local Government Area, and 28-year-old Kelvin Adamu, from Igbogene, were arrested over alleged links to the Bobos Confraternity.
The police said Bereh would be arraigned in court, while Adamu was already on remand awaiting trial.
In Swali, the command arrested Vincent Ikiye, 20, from Gbarain in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, who was reportedly handed over to the police by community youths during a raid.
Other suspects arrested in the area were Benjamin Akeno, 26; Esuaye Ikeclear, 30, a musician from Famgbe; Gift Torie, 23; and Job Simon, 32, a businessman from Gbarain.
The police alleged that the suspects confessed to belonging to the Bobos Confraternity, with some reportedly identified by nicknames including “Small but Mighty,” “Gentle Lion,” “Daki” and “VIP.”
The command said some of the suspects were expected to face prosecution, while investigations continued into the cases.
These allegations remain subject to judicial determination.
Beyond the arrests, the police reported recovering two cans of nitrous oxide, commonly called laughing gas, 17 bottles of a substance identified as codeine and a bag of dried leaves suspected to be cannabis.
The substances were listed among the exhibits recovered during the operations.
Weapons Recovered as Police Intensify Crackdown
The command’s overall breakdown listed 23 suspects arrested and an array of weapons and other exhibits recovered.
These included firearms, live ammunition, cutlasses, battle axes, a drum, suspected illicit substances and 20 cartridges.
The police summary, however, contains inconsistencies in the firearm breakdown, including the stated categories and quantities. The figures will require clarification to establish the exact number and types of weapons recovered.
For a city whose residents depend on peaceful neighbourhoods, busy motor parks and safe roads to carry out their daily activities, the police say the operations are intended to prevent further violence and restore public confidence.
The challenge, however, extends beyond arresting suspects. Sustaining peace will require continued intelligence gathering, effective investigations, lawful prosecution and cooperation between law enforcement officers and the communities they serve.
Police Acknowledge Community Support
Adewale credited officers and men of the Bayelsa State Police Command, particularly personnel of the Doo Akpo Joint Task Force and other tactical teams, for their role in the operations.
He also acknowledged the support of community stakeholders, including tricycle unions, the National Union of Road Transport Workers, traditional rulers, Community Development Committees and youth leaders across Yenagoa.
According to the commissioner, engagements with these groups have helped strengthen trust and intelligence-sharing between residents and the police.
He described the arrests as evidence of what could be achieved when communities and security agencies work together rather than remain silent in the face of criminal activities.
Community cooperation is particularly important in areas where residents may possess information about suspicious movements or individuals but hesitate to report them for fear of retaliation.
The police urged residents to provide timely and credible information while avoiding actions that could undermine investigations or endanger lives.
A Call to Restore Peace
For families affected by the recent killings, the most immediate concern is not the number of suspects arrested or the weapons recovered, but whether the violence will stop and whether their loved ones can move around without fear.
The deaths of four people have added urgency to the command’s campaign against cult-related violence.
While the latest arrests represent a significant step in the police response, residents will ultimately judge the success of the operations by whether attacks and reprisals decline and peace returns to their communities.
Adewale assured residents that the command would continue intelligence-driven policing, visibility patrols and partnerships with community stakeholders.
“The Command will not allow criminals to dictate the atmosphere in our communities,” he said, reiterating that offenders would be pursued within the bounds of the law.
He called on residents to remain vigilant and resist attempts by criminal groups and their collaborators to undermine public peace.
For Yenagoa, the hope is that the arrests will mark a turning point rather than another temporary pause in a cycle of violence.
Behind every reported killing is a life lost, a family left grieving and a community forced to confront the consequences of insecurity.
The task before the police and the people of Bayelsa is therefore clear: to ensure that the streets, motor parks and neighbourhoods of the state capital become places where residents can live and work without the constant threat of cult-related violence.