Two recent graduates of the Niger Delta University (NDU), Amassoma, have been killed in a brutal attack by suspected cultists in Gbarabtoru-Ekpetiama, a community in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The victims, identified as Ayaokpo Sinclair from Tombia Community and his yet-to-be-named friend, were reportedly awaiting their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) call-up letters when the tragic incident occurred late Thursday night.
According to Mr. Tolummbofa Akpoebibo Jonathan, Commander of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) in Bayelsa, the young men had stepped out around 11 p.m. to buy something when they were ambushed by a gang arriving in a vehicle.
Jonathan recounted:
“The one that jumped into the creek managed to swim out. The driver of the vehicle that brought the cultists identified him as his relation and tried to save him, but when the attackers came back to the car and saw him, they cut him until he became unconscious.
I tried with my men to revive him by taking him to the community health centre, but he gave up. So the police were invited and the two bodies were deposited at the morgue.”
Eyewitnesses say the attackers were shouting “see them” and chanting “aye, aye,” a slogan linked to cult activity, before launching the attack with machetes.
One of the victims initially managed to escape into a nearby creek despite suffering deep cuts. However, he was later caught again and fatally wounded.
The police have since arrested the driver who transported the attackers to the community. DSP Musa Mohammed, the Bayelsa State Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the arrests and stated that the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) is actively investigating the case to track down other suspects who fled the scene.
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