From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
A renewed supremacy between two notorious cult groups, Greenlanders and Bobos, on Tuesday night, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, has claimed the life of a 28-year-old man identified as Victor Namabebe.
Investigation revealed that Namabebe was killed at Ebis Mechanic Road, Amarata, a suburb of Yenagoa.
Findings indicated that the deceased, a suspected executioner for Greenlanders, was said to have stormed Amarata with other suspected Greenlanders to launch an attack on a former Greenlander, who had dumped the cult group for Bobos.
However, unknown to them, the Bobos members, having got a hint of the planned attack, had prepared fully, resulting in a gun duel which caused pandemonium in the area. Residents of the area said the fierce battle between the rival cult group led to volley of gun shots and use of dangerous weapons which forced shop owners and other businesses to close.
It was gathered that many of the residents, who were trapped at various viewing centres, at around 8pm, watching the Champions League quarter final matches, scampered home for safety. The victim was reported to have been left in his own pool of blood with suspected degree of head injuries.
Sources said there was a red alert of reprisal in certain parts of Yenagoa, namely, Apex Academy Road, OMPADEC, Ebis Mechanic and Amarata, over the death of Namabebe.
Contacted on the development, the spokesman of the Bayelsa Police Command, Musa Mohammed confirmed the development and said the body of the deceased has been deposited at the morgue.
“At about 9pm (on Tuesday), one Chief Emmanuel Namabebe reported at the A Division of the Nigerian Police that his 28-year-old son, Victor Namabebe, was found dead at the Amarata area of the state capitol. Police personnel from the A Division mobilised to the area and found the victim. Upon examination, he was found with various grievous injuries to the head.”
Recently, at the State Security Council meeting attended by Governor Douye Diri and service commanders in the state had passed a resolution directing the police to clamp down on cult activities in the state.
The resolution was prompted by the increasing wave of cult related violence and its negative effect on the prevailing peace in the state.