Cultists Kill 2 University Graduates
There was tension As Ayaokpo Sinclair, a graduate of the Niger Delta University (NDU) from Tombia Community, and his yet-to-be-identified friend have been hacked to death by suspected cultists in Gbarabtoru-Ekpetiama, a community in the Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The two young men, said to be waiting for their National Youth Service Corps call-up letters, were attacked around 11pm on Thursday when the assailants stormed the area in a vehicle.
The Commander of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) in Bayelsa State, Mr Tolummbofa Akpoebibo Jonathan, told Daily Trust that the victims had gone out to buy something when the cultists arrived, shouting “see them.”
He said after chanting “aye, aye,” a known cult slogan, the gang descended on the two graduates with machetes.
Jonathan explained, “The one that jumped into the creek managed to swim out. The driver of the vehicle that brought the cultists identified him as his relation and tried to save him, but when the attackers came back to the car and saw him, they cut him until he became unconscious.
“I tried with my men to revive him by taking him to the Community health centre, but he gave up. So the police were invited and the two bodies were deposited at the morgue.”
He said the driver of the vehicle had been arrested in connection with the attack.
The Bayelsa State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Musa Mohammed, confirmed the incident.
He added that several suspects had been apprehended while officers from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) continued to pursue others involved.
