A group of suspected cultists allegedly attacked the Divisional headquarter of the Nigeria Police Force in Oporoma, the headquarters of the Southern Ijaw Local Government area of Bayelsa state and set the station ablaze. It was revealed that the attack on the police station was carried out after a suspected cultist involved in the rescue mission of another cult member from the police was shot dead.

According to Arch convener of a Non Governmental Organization, Patriotism Advancement and Community Orientation Network (PACON), Comrade Aluzu Ebikebuna Augustine, the incident threw the community into pandemonium.

The Bayelsa State Police Command, in a preliminary report confirming the incident and signed by the spokesman, DSP Asinim Butswat, “report indicate that a suspected cultist who was on Police wanted list for various heinous crimes such as; Kidnapping, sea robbery, armed robbery, and acts of pipeline vandalism, was arrested and detained at the Oporoma Police Division, Southern Ijaw LGA, preparatory to be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Intelligence Department (SCIID), Yenagoa”.

“The suspect on 21 March, 2018, attempted to escape from lawful custody and was shot by the Police officer on duty. Other members of the suspect cult group mobilized and attacked officers on duty at the Police Division and set it ablaze. Additional Policemen were deployed to restore normalcy in the community”.

“There seems to be emergence of cases cultism in Bayelsa State, we call on members of the public to volunteer useful information and to assist the police in curbing the ugly trend of cultism among our teeming youths”.