File photo of Police operatives carrying out an operation
The Bayelsa Police Command has initiated a conflict resolution tactics to secure a ceasefire from warring cult groups in the State.
The command warned that further conflicts and killings would lead to automatic arrest and prosecution of identified leaders.
Rival cult clashes have resulted in the killings of seven persons in the last one week in Igbogene, Amarata, Swali and Ekeki areas of Yenagoa, the state capital.
They were as a result of struggle for control of the share of revenue from the newly-relocated state Transport Terminal located at Igbogene, on the outskirts of Yenagoa.
It was gathered the Igbogene axis where the bus terminal is located is under the control of the Greenlanders cult group but other cult groups such as the Icelanders, Vikings, Bobos and Dee-bams are struggling to have a share of such expected revenues.
Our correspondent gathered Commissioner of Police, Francis Idu, who was miffed by the rising cases of killings, ordered the tactical team of the Operation Puff Adder led by CSP Chris Nwaogbo to invite all the leaders of the cult groups and issued them a caution.
It was also gathered the leaders of the cult groups, after declining the invitation out of fear of arrest, approached the top echelon of the police to meet with the Commissioner of Police over the issue.
At the meeting, which started on Monday and ended on Tuesday, about 10 heads of cult groups in the state, agreed that “Forthwith, all cases of violence and killings will stop. They also agreed to send messages to all their foot soldiers on the agreement. They agreed that the police should hold any leader of any cult group identified in any further violence responsible.”
But a reliable source within the Police Command said the undertaking was signed to bring a halt to the killings and bloodshed.
The source, however, said the “investigation into individuals responsible for the killings of the persons was ongoing and they would be brought to book.” (The Nation)
