- Bayelsa Volunteer nabs suspected cultist
From Femi Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, on Friday, gave a stern warning to students engaging in cult activities at the state-owned Niger Delta University (NDU), Wilberforce Island, Amassoma, in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area to withdraw from the institution or be ready for expulsion.
He therefore directed the Vice Chancellor and the institution’s management to fish out culprits and dismiss anyone found culpable.
Diri gave the directive during the NDU 7th Combined Convocation following recent incidents of student cult rivalry that reportedly claimed lives in the community.
The governor had earlier ordered a crackdown on cultists in the state, directing security agencies in the state and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice to speedily prosecute anyone arrested for cult-related crimes in the state.
He restated his call on students to avoid cultism, stressing that there was no room for such activities in universities, but rather it is a place for character building and learning.
He said: “Recently, I spoke to the Vice Chancellor about the resurgence of cultism in this university. May I use this opportunity to warn those who did not come here for learning and character building to on their own withdraw.
“There should be no room for cultism in this university. I have given the Vice Chancellor a charge as the Visitor to this institution, and as the government, I have also charged all security agencies in the state. Anyone found engaging in cultism in this university, do not hesitate to apply the sanctions.”
Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State Volunteer Security Outfit has successfully apprehended an alleged cultist, Emmanuel Daniel, aged 20, from Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.
The suspect, believed to be a member of the notorious Bobos cult group, was caught at Etegwe community market while allegedly attempting to assassinate a rival cult member, identified as Mr. Walawala, of the Iceland cult group, who hails from Yenagoa Local Government Area.
In his confessional statement, Daniel disclosed that Mr Walawala was responsible for the recent murder of a fellow cult member at the Arab Unit in Yenizuegene.
Daniel’s accomplice during the operation, Marvelous, also known as “Castle Man,” is currently at large.
The Bayelsa State Volunteer Security Outfit, in collaboration with the Nigerian Police Force, is actively pursuing Mr. Marvelous to bring him in for possible prosecution.
The chairman of Bayelsa State Volunteers security outfit, High Chief Oyinkuro Lucky Asanakpo, said the arrest of Daniel will dispel rumours that the agency is biased in its operations.
He stated that the agency will never condone any act of criminality, irrespective of whose axe is gored.
He noted that Governor Douye Diri has mandated his office to go after any offender and bring them to justice, adding that no sane society can thrive and progress in the face of criminality and lawlessness.