Mar 22, 2017

Two teenagers killed in Bayelsa cult clash

Nigeria
Austin Ebipade
Nigerian Tribune
March 21, 2017

The fight for supremacy between two rival cult groups claimed the lives of two teenagers in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, on Saturday night.

The clash, which occurred at the Amarata area of Yenagoa metropolis, caused panic among residents who watched the battle between the rival armed cult gangs.

The cult groups were said to have freely used guns, cutlasses, axes and other weapons during the clash.

The clash left the two teenagers, aged 18 and 19, dead after they suffered gunshot wounds.

One of the victims, identified simply as Paul, from Anambra State, was said to have been shot by  the rival cult group when he allegedly led his group, armed with guns and other weapons, on a reprisal attack  for an earlier attack on his group.

He was said to have been shot in the abdomen and died at the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, where he was rushed to for treatment after the encounter.

The other victim, whose name could not be ascertained,  died during the clash.

Their remains had since been deposited at the morgue of the FMC Yenagoa.

When contacted on the development, the Police Public Relations Officer, Bayelsa State Command, Mr Asinim Butswat, confirmed the death of one person.

He, however, denied that the victim died as a result of cult-related incident, saying it was a case of robbery.

“The boy was killed through mob action as he attempted to rob some residents. The deceased was resisted by the people who clubbed him to death,’’ Butswat stated.

He, however, said the command had intensified patrols on the troubled areas to prevent further breakdown of law and order.

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