There is tension in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, following the brutal assassination of Olotu Wanemi Omubo, alleged leader of the Bobos cult group and a key figure among Phase 2 beneficiaries of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP). The gruesome killing, which occurred late Thursday night, has heightened concerns of an escalating cult war in the city.
Olotu Wanemi Omubo, a native of Nembe in Nembe Local Government Area, was reportedly trailed by gunmen suspected to be members of a rival cult to the residence of a female acquaintance. Eyewitnesses and security sources confirmed that he was shot multiple times at close range—once in the head, chest, and side.
In another chilling account, it was claimed that after shooting him, the assailants used heavy stones to bludgeon his head, ensuring his death before fleeing the scene.
The violent hit, which took place along Good News Street in Azikoro Town, threw the area into chaos, as residents ran for safety. The magnitude of the attack has sparked fears of reprisal, with community members calling for urgent intervention from security agencies and the Bayelsa State Government.
Police sources have linked the killing to an ongoing rivalry among notorious cult groups in Bayelsa, particularly the Bobos, the Vikings, and the Greenlanders. Just days before the assassination, the Bobos cult group was alleged to be behind the shooting of a suspected Vikings unit leader, identified simply as Christian, near the Kimowei filling station on Imgbi Road, Amarata. Christian, who sustained gunshot wounds to the shoulder, is currently battling for survival in an undisclosed hospital.
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That incident reportedly triggered a deadly counterattack in Swali, where four individuals were gunned down in broad daylight on Easter Sunday. Sources say these killings are part of an intensifying tit-for-tat violence between rival cult factions, with the Greenlanders allegedly hosting a high-level meeting to strategize on how to repel further attacks.
Tensions have since escalated, prompting widespread fear and panic across Yenagoa. Residents have been warned to avoid unnecessary outings, especially at night, as concerns grow over possible revenge killings by the Bobos cult group. “We now live in fear. Most of the cult boys have gone into hiding. The Apex, Imgbi Road, and Omoadec areas are deserted,” said a resident, Melvin, who spoke to our correspondent.
Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer, Musa Mohammed, confirmed receiving a report of the murder but noted that full details were still being compiled. A senior police officer from the State Command also revealed that law enforcement agents are closely monitoring the situation and investigating the identities of those involved in the renewed cult clashes.
With tension still high and cult violence spiraling out of control, calls are growing louder for the Bayelsa State Government and security agencies to act swiftly to prevent further bloodshed. The assassination of Wanemi Omubo has not only shocked the community but has also thrown Yenagoa into a state of fear and uncertainty, with residents bracing for what could be another wave of deadly reprisal attacks.
