BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

YENAGOA— The police in Bayelsa State have arrested 20 persons over alleged involvement in defiling underaged girls, cult-related violence and killings in some parts of the state.

Among the suspects were five persons including a 64-year-old man arrested for defiling children between the ages of 10 and 13.

Fifteen others, including a 22-year-old notorious cultist known  as ‘Small Boy Danger’ were nabbed for the recent cases of cult-related violence and killings within Yenagoa metropolis.
State Commissioner of Police, Hilary Opara, disclosed these yesterday while speaking with newsmen in Yenagoa.

Opara described as unfortunate the recent incidents of cult-related violence in the state capital, saying it spurred the police into series of patrol and security operations which led to major arrests.

On the arrest of five paedophiles, the Police Commissioner said past arrests and prosecutions of rape and child defilement cases were frustrated by the lack of will on the part of parents of victims to prosecute.

He, however, noted with delight that the police and the state government had set up a committee backed by law to ensure that cases of child rape and abuses, violence against women and girl-child are properly prosecuted and indictment secured.

The CP also announced that the marine component of the Nigerian Police engaged some sea pirates in a shoot-out which led to the arrest of 14 suspects along the Ikoli river and the Brass/Snake Island axis of Brass Local Government Area of the state.

Opara called on the people of the state to be vigilant and security conscious by observing strange movement of persons or group of persons in their area.