Rival cult groups clash in Bayelsa

By Samuel Oyadongha
Yenagoa—Several persons were reportedly injured in the riverine settlement of Tungbo, Sagbama local government area of Bayelsa State, Saturday, following a violent clash between two rival cult groups.

Lethal weapons, such as cutlasses and spears, were freely used by the rival cultists during the skirmish which left scores of persons with machete wounds.

Eye witness accounts said trouble started some distance away from the venue of a beach party organized at Tungbo, Saturday night, during the community’s annual festival.

A young man, whose name was given as Kaki Ogugu,  reportedly received several machete cuts and was whisked away by some youths from Sagbama allegedly belonging to a cult group.

He was, however, rescued by his kinsmen from a location where he had been abandoned by his assailants.
Angered by the development, some youths from Tungbo were also said to have mobilized and attacked Sagbama youths, injuring some persons in retaliation.

But there were conflicting accounts of the cause of the violent incident in the community.

One account had it that Ogugu was alleged to have danced with a girlfriend of one of the members from Sagbama, while another version was that he was mistaken for a rival cult member.

It was also gathered that two Tungbo youths that went to Sagbama yesterday morning were attacked with machetes.

The development is now reportedly causing tension between the two communities which are less than five kilometres apart.

When contacted, the Bayelsa Police Commissioner, Elder Onuoha Udeka, confirmed the incident, but said information at his disposal was hazy.

Udeka said he was still awaiting detailed reports from the DPO of Sagbama police station.