Police recover pistols, ammunition, arrest two over cult violence in Bayelsa

Deadly clash in Amassoma

Operatives of the Amassoma Division of the Bayelsa State Police Command arrested two suspected cultists and recovered two locally made pistols, two live 9mm ammunition and suspected illicit drugs following a cult-related clash in Amassoma community, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.

The arrests followed a violent clash that claimed the life of a suspected cult member in the university community. Police said the incident happened on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at about 2:00 p.m.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Musa Mohammed, the deceased was identified as Ebube Jonathan, a 200-Level Management Science student of Niger Delta University, Amassoma, and a suspected member of the Black Axe Confraternity.

The incident occurred on Tuesday, 7th July 2026, at about 1400 hours, when one Ebube Jonathan 'm', a 200-Level student of Management Science at Niger Delta University, Amassoma, and a suspected member of the Black Axe Confraternity, was attacked by yet-to-be-identified assailants along Kabaka Street, Amassoma. The victim was macheted, shot, and later confirmed dead by a medical doctor.

— DSP Musa Mohammed, Police Public Relations Officer, Bayelsa State Police Command

Follow-up operation and arrests

Mohammed said police operatives launched a follow-up operation later the same day after the killing. The operation, he said, led to the arrest of two suspects who were allegedly preparing for a reprisal attack.

The suspects were identified as Godswin Adobu, 24 years old, a 300-Level student of Fine and Applied Arts, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Niger Delta University, and Tarilaefa Fesingha, 21 years old.

Police said both men were arrested at Ending Pele, Amassoma, where they had allegedly mobilised in an attempt to avenge the death of their gang member.

Following a swift follow-up operation at about 1600 hours on the same day, operatives attached to Amassoma Division responded promptly and arrested two suspects: Godswin Adobu 'm', 24 years old, a 300-Level student of Fine and Applied Arts, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Niger Delta University, and Tarilaefa Fesingha 'm', 21 years old. Both were arrested at Ending Pele, Amassoma, where they had allegedly mobilized in an attempt to avenge the death of their gang member.

— DSP Musa Mohammed, Police Public Relations Officer, Bayelsa State Police Command

Weapons recovered and investigation ongoing

During the operation, police recovered two locally made pistols, two live rounds of 9mm ammunition and suspected illicit drugs from the suspects, according to the command.

The police spokesperson said investigations were ongoing to apprehend other members of the gang and unravel the circumstances surrounding the killing.

The command did not provide further details on the suspected illicit drugs or name the other persons being sought in connection with the incident.

Commissioner reiterates warning

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in Bayelsa State, Edebor Iyamah, restated the command's commitment to tackling cultism and other violent crimes across the state.

He warned criminal elements to desist from unlawful activities or be prepared to face the full weight of the law.

The commissioner also appealed to residents to continue supporting the police with timely and credible information to aid ongoing efforts to rid Bayelsa State of cult-related violence and other criminal activities.