Three persons have been killed in a renewed cult clash in Igbogene community, a suburb of Yenagoa in Bayelsa State, heightening security concerns in the state capital.
The victims were reportedly gunned down around 11.30pm on Sunday by suspected members of rival cult groups during a violent confrontation that lasted over an hour.
Residents said the assailants shot the victims at close range, allegedly targeting their heads to ensure they did not survive the attack.
PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the clash was linked to tensions arising from a recent youth election in the community.
However, sources said the violence was also connected to the earlier killing of one Ebi Doudou, alleged to be a leader of the Greenlanders cult group in the Igbogene axis.
Doudou, said to be from Amassoma community, was reportedly abducted on February 15, 2026, by suspected members of a rival cult group. His headless body was later discovered by the police, sparking outrage among his associates.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal, said the immediate trigger for the latest violence was a disagreement between opposing camps during the youth election.
“There was a youth election in the community and the losers warned the winners not to celebrate in their area.
The victorious group ignored the warning and went ahead with drumming and dancing. Later in the night, we heard sustained gunshots. By morning, three corpses were lying on the ground,” the source said.
It was further learnt that members of the rival groups engaged in a fierce gun duel, leaving three persons dead and several others injured with bullet wounds.
When our correspondent visited the area on Monday morning, heavy security presence was observed, with multiple police patrol vans stationed at strategic points, while armed officers conducted stop-and-search operations.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Musa Muhammed, confirmed the incident and the death of three persons.
He said the Commissioner of Police, Daniel Iyamah, had deployed additional personnel to the area to forestall further breakdown of law and order.
“Investigation has commenced and efforts are ongoing to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects,” the police spokesman said.
The renewed cult violence has intensified fears among residents of Igbogene and other parts of Yenagoa, as authorities move to prevent an escalation of hostilities between the rival groups.
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