The tea party between the administration of Seriake Dickson and different cult groups operating in Bayelsa State seems to be over as amnesty granted to members last year has collapsed.
Consequently, the unholy activists of the group, which had been in lull since the signing of the amnesty have returned in full force leading to several reprisal killings in some parts of the state capital, recently.
The state government had early last year granted amnesty to repentant cultists numbering more than 600, and promised to engage them in some meaningful trades, a promise that was not fulfilled.
However, the police Command in the state has signified its readiness to tackle the situation as not less than 32 suspected cultists and arsonists in the state have been apprehended in the last few days.
Investigations revealed that 14 of the suspects were apprehended for cultism while 18 others were held over their alleged attempt to burn the palace of their traditional ruler in Oruma, Ogbia Local Government Area of the state.
The suspected arsonists were said to have hatched a plot to raze the palace over allegations bordering on mismanagement of oil money by their king.
It was gathered that the suspects were on their way to execute the plot when a team of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) rounded them up.
It was discovered at the state Police Command, Yenagoa, that the suspects were arrested and brought to the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Hilary Opara.
Mr Opara, who confirmed the development, praised his men for proactively stopping what he said would have thrown the community into a prolonged crisis.
He asked the youth to explore legal means of addressing their grievances instead of resorting to jungle justice.
Mr Opara further confirmed that about 14 suspected cultists were in the custody of the police.
He said while some of them had been arraigned and remanded in prison custody, others were awaiting prosecution.
According to him, the suspects risked 10-year jail term if convicted as provided by the state’s anti-cultism law.
He alleged that some of the cultists were involved in some cases of cult-related violence that left few people dead.
Mr Opara further disclosed that some notorious kingpins who existed in the wanted list of the police had been arrested.
He said they were the reasons behind pockets of criminalities in some parts of the state,especially the state capital.
Describing them as criminal contractors, he said they readily made themselves available for criminal operations.
He named one of them as Ogbogire and said it took the police a long time to apprehend him.
He said on the day he was captured at Biogbolo area of Yenagoa, the kingpin behaved like a monkey as he jumped 12 roofs of buildings only to be caught later by the police.
“He behaved like a monkey. He jumped from one roof to another trying to escape. In fact he jumped about 12 roofs before he was eventually caught”, he said.
Other notorious kingpins, according to Mr Opara, are Razor and Small Boy Danger adding that since they were nabbed, most parts of the city had been calm.
He said both Razor and Small Boy Danger were linked to the cult killings at Agudiama and Akenfa insisting that apprehending them was not an easy feat.
He said most cultists also engage in armed robbery as their source of income.
He described the Swali area of Yenagoa as a hideout for criminals but said the SARS unit of the command had conducted many operations to sanitise it.
“The SARS has been doing a nice job. It has been sanitising Swali. Swali right from time has been notorious. The area has been given us problems coupled with one market completed and allocated by the government but persons to whom the market stalls were allocated refuse to occupy them.
“So, the hoodlums have converted the place to a safe haven from where they operate. But we raid every night. That is why the place is a bit sanitises. Generally speaking, the town is safe. There are night clubs booming and people are moving around without molestation.”