By Aniefiok Akam
Hundreds of armed cultists on Monday invaded the commercial office of the Telecom giant, MTN, along the D. S. P Alameiseigha way in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, killing a customer who is alleged to be a rival cult member.
Also invaded was the Swali Ultra-Modern Major Market in the state capital, Yenagoa, where a butcher was shot on his arm during their gun battle.
The murdered 28-year-old customer, who was identified as Victor Abasi; is a native of Ogu town in Yenagoa local Government Area of the state.
According to sources, the incident occurred at about 3pm and the deceased was reportedly placed on wanted list by the members of the rival cult group known as Greenlanders over his alleged involvement in a bloody clash in Swali area of the state capital early in the year.
An eyewitness told NIGER DELTA TODAY(NDT) Online that the deceased had almost finished with his documentation of a Sim Card validation at the MTN office when armed gang invaded the office and chased him.
“He was gentle and on dread hair style. Suddenly we noticed armed boys invaded the MTN office and we took to our heels. The deceased jumped out and scaled the fence. But the suspected cultists went after him and descended on him with various dangerous weapons. “
It was later gathered that the deceased was a suspected member of the group known as Bobos.
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Already, the killing of Victor Abasi has snowballed into a fire battle between the Greanlanders and Bobos in Amarata, Ekeki, Swali and other areas of the state capital.
A resident of Imgbi Road, who pleaded anonymity, claimed that armed Bobos invaded the area on Monday night in search of rival groups, “they said some cult group killed their” Senior man” and they are out to retaliate”
It would be recalled that rival cult group located at Tombia axis and Amarata had in the last few days engaged in bloody clashes over revenue collection, rivalry and battle for supremacy.
Meanwhile, some days ago some traders, residents and commuters around the popular Tombia market in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State were robbed of their cash and valuables when rival cult groups engaged in a free for all shooting.
According to eyewitness account, the gun battle between the cult groups identified as Bobos and Greenlanders began in the wee hours of today and lasted till about 7:30 am before a combined team of the military and police restored peace.
A resident who pleaded not to be mentioned alleged that the cult clash is as a result of a struggle for the control of drug trade around the ever busy Tombia market in Etegwe/Edepie Community.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the state, Asinim Butswat, confirmed the story, saying there was no casualty reported during the incident at the Tombia area.
In short message via WhatsApp he said “policemen responded swiftly and normalcy is restored. No reported casualty, Investigation in ongoing to identify and arrest the cultists.”
