Two graduates of the Niger Delta University, Amassoma, have been hacked to death by suspected cultists at the Gbarantoru community in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
One of the victims was identified as Ayaokpo Sinclair from Tombia community, while the identity of the second victim had yet to be confirmed as of the time of filing this report.
Both were reportedly waiting for their NYSC call-up when they were attacked around 11 pm on Thursday.
Commander of Vigilante Group of Nigeria in Bayelsa State, Mr Tolummbofa Jonathan, told journalists that the two young graduates had strolled out to buy something in the evening when a group of boys came into the community in a vehicle and began to shout, “see them.”
Jonathan said after chanting “aye, aye”, a slogan believed to be their cult slogan, they began to attack the deceased and inflicted machete cuts on them.
According to him, one of the deceased escaped with machete cuts and jumped into a nearby creek, where he eventually died, but the other was killed instantly.
He said: “Though the one that jumped into the creek had managed to swim out, but the driver of the vehicle that brought the cultists later accosted him, and identified him as his relation and tried to save him.
“But, when the attackers came back to the car and saw him, they overpowered the driver and cut him until he became unconscious.
“I tried with my men to revive him by taking him to the community health centre for first aid. In the process at the clinic, he also gave up. So, the police were invited, and the bodies were deposited at the morgue.”
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Jonathan said the police have commenced an investigation into the matter and arrested the driver of the vehicle that brought the hoodlums to the community, while they are trailing the other fleeing culprits.
When contacted, the spokesman for the Bayelsa State Police Command, Mr. Musa Mohammed, confirmed the incident, saying some suspects have been arrested in connection with the killing, while an investigation is ongoing at the State Criminal Investigative Department (SCID).
“The State Criminal Investigation Department has commenced an investigation into the matter to arrest the fleeing suspects,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the war between rival cult groups has escalated with gunshots heard in the Amarata and Azikoro Town in the Yenagoa metropolis .
Eyewitnesses told our correspondent that the fighting has made residents to run for fear of being hit by stray bullets.
