Why cultists killed policeman, three others in Bayelsa state

Gunmen, suspected to be cultists, have killed an unnamed policeman and three others in two incidents in Bayelsa State. It was gathered that the policeman, attached to the Police Mobile Force, was gunned down in Yenagoa.

The three others were killed at Otuesiga in Ogbia Local Government. The policeman was said to have run into cultists protesting and shooting at Tombia, following the alleged arrest of their leader.

Sources said on sighting the policeman, the cultists saw him as their enemy and shot him. At Otuesiga, it was learnt that suspected cultists stormed the community to kill two of their rivals. The gunmen were said to have located their enemies, shot them while a passerby was hit by a stray bullet.

The new Police Commissioner, Mr. Ebere Onyeagoro, confirmed the killing of the policeman.

He said: “The command regrettably lost one of its men on way to duties. That is one of the hazards of the job. We are doing our best to make sure such incident does not occur. It is essentially as a result of cultism. It was unfortunate that the officer ran into them and was killed.

“We will do our best; we will sustain all patrols to make sure we curtail the acts of these cults. The fact is that crime does not pay in any way. We will not reward crime. The parents and the good people of Bayelsa should advise their children and wards to shun crimes and violence. We are on top of the situation and are working on intelligence. At the end, those concerned will be brought to book.”

Onyeagoro said cultism, robberies and other crimes would be dealt with. He said on assumption of duty last Friday, he noticed that the prevailing crimes were cultism, robbery, rape, indecent assaults, chieftaincy tussle, communal disputes, among others.