•Cultists
The Bayelsa State Police Command has confirmed that the recent killing of Olotu Wanemi Omubo, the leader of the notorious cult group known as the Bobos, was executed by members of his own group.
This incident occurred on a Thursday along Good News Street in Azikoro town, located in the state capital, reports The Nation.
Omubo, an indigene of Nembe in the Nembe Local Government Area of the state, was known for his involvement in the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) and served as a leader for the Phase 2 beneficiaries of the programme in Bayelsa State.
His killing has sparked various theories among local residents — some attribute it to ongoing cult rivalries, particularly the tension between the Bobos and the Vikings, while others suspect that external forces might have been involved as a form of retribution related to other killings.
However, during a media briefing yesterday, the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Francis Idu, clarified that the murder was allegedly orchestrated by members of the Bobos themselves.
He said the internal conflict was characterised as an “intranet cult war,” where the motive behind the killing was a power struggle aimed at reshuffling leadership within the group.
Idu assured the residents of Bayelsa that measures were being taken to curb cult-related violence and that, despite Omubo’s notorious background and criminal record, his demise came at the hands of his gang members.
He said the police are committed to restoring peace and addressing the underlying issues contributing to cult violence in the state.
The commissioner said: “Ninety-five (95) per cent of intelligence available to the police showed that he died due to intra-cult rivalry about leadership struggle. They took him out and made it look like an intercultural rivalry to profit from his death.
“It is on good authority that the deceased has been involved in nefarious activities. The last altercation with the police was over the issue of illegal gun possession.
“He was controversially influenced to be let off the hook, and that is why I have always said when you influence the release of a criminal off the hook, you are building a disastrous effect.”
He also announced the arrest of over nine persons for various crimes, including cultism, kidnapping, armed robbery, unlawful possession of firearms, and murder.
In one of the cases, a 50-year-old native of Gombe State, Mohammed Adamu, was arrested alongside Adiamakubo Orubo, 37, over the alleged disappearance of one Ashiru Ishiaku, 26, a native of Kano State, along with his tricycle on April 29, 2025.
Also arrested was a member of the notorious Island cult group, David Ngo, 36 years old, native of Brass LGA, over the alleged stabbing to death of one Goodwill Ovuru at Agudama Ekpetiama on April 16, 2025.
At Onopa community in Yenagoa Local Government, one Monday, Daniel, 28, was arrested by the police for an alleged armed robbery attack on Amarachi Emeachi at her residence around Revenue House, Onopa.
A group of four men, armed with guns, reportedly dispossessed her of her Redmi phone valued at N180,000.
The CP stated: “On the 4th of May, 2025, one Endurance Odambe Chinedu, 24, from Ndokwa-East of Delta State, was arrested at Agbia community in Yenagoa at 1 pm with 10 live cartridges.
“During interrogation, the suspect confessed to being a member of the Black Axe confraternity, also known as the Aye cult group. During the execution of a search warrant, a battle axe, a black beret bearing the cult group’s insignia, and a crusher were recovered in his house.”
