Cultists have reportedly hacked two graduates of the Niger Delta University (NDU), Amassomma, Bayelsa State, to death at Gbarabtoru-Ekpetiama community in Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state.
The victims identified as one Ayaokpo Sinclair from Tombia Community and his yet-to-be identified friend, were said to have been waiting for their National Youth Service Corps call up when the cultists stroke on Thursday, around 11pm and macheted them to death.
Commander of Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) in Bayelsa State, Mr Tolummbofa Akpoebibo Jonathan, told Daily Trust on Friday that the two young graduates had strolled out to buy something when a gang came into the community in a vehicle and began to shout ‘see them’.
He said after chanting ‘aye, aye,’ a slogan believed to be occultic, they began to attack the duo.
He said one of the deceased had escaped with some machete cuts and jumped into a nearby creek, but the gang eventually killed him.
He said: “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,” he said.
Jonathan said the police had arrested the driver of the vehicle that brought the hoodlums to the community.
Police spokesman in Bayelsa State, DSP Musa Mohammed, who confirmed the incident, said some suspects had been arrested in connection with the killing, while investigation was ongoing at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to arrest the fleeing culprits.
