Cult Violence Claims Life in Bayelsa as Man is Fatally Stoned

A brutal cult clash in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, claimed the life of 30-year-old Dariepngton Watson on Wednesday evening. Watson, a member of the Greenlanders cult group, fell victim to the escalating violence between the Greenlanders and Bobous rival cults.

Witnesses said Watson was dragged out of a moving tricycle in the Agudama-Epie community before being stoned to death by members of the opposing Bobous cult.

The incident has heightened tensions in the area, with fears of further retaliation and violence.

Several lives have been lost in the ongoing cult war between the Bobous and Greenlanders over the control of the new transport terminal at the Igbogene community on the outskirts of Yenagoa.

A witness said: ‘The boy was in a tricycle (keke) when suspected members of a rival cult group stopped the vehicle, dragged him out, and brutally assaulted him with sticks and stones until he succumbed to his injuries and gave up the ghost.

‘The incident occurred around 5:15 pm on Wednesday, opposite one of the Pentecostal churches at Agudama-Epie in Yenagoa.’’

He said the family of the deceased had already taken away the corpse for burial as the assailants fled the scene before a police patrol team arrived.

Confirming the incident on Thursday, Bayelsa State Police Command spokesman, ASP Musa Mohammed, said investigations have commenced while a man-hunt has been launched to apprehend fleeing suspects.

‘‘Information at my disposal has it that yesterday (Wednesday) at about 1900 hours, based on information received, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) led the patrol team to the area.

‘‘Bobous and Greenlander cult groups were clashing at Agudama-Epie; in the process, one Darlington Walson, 30 year-old from the community and a member of Greenlander group, as well, was inflicted with machete cuts and stoned to death by the rival group.

‘‘On arrival at the scene, the family of the deceased had evacuated the corpse for burial; investigation has been intensified to apprehend the suspects involved in the killing,” he said.