Bayelsa cult leader killed by gang members over leadership tussle
By Samuel Ese
The Bayelsa State Police Command has shed light on the circumstances surrounding the death of Olotu Omubo, a leader of the Bobos cult group, revealing that he was killed by members within his own organization seeking to capitalize on a change in leadership.
Bayelsa State Police Commissioner Francis Idu disclosed this information during an interactive session with journalists in his office in Yenagoa on Monday.
The late Omubo, a native of Nembe in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, was also a beneficiary of the Presidential Amnesty Programme and served as the leader of Phase 2 Amnesty beneficiaries in the state. His death on Thursday, April 24, along Goodnews Street in the Azikoro axis of Yenagoa, had initially been shrouded in mystery, with suspicion falling on rival cult groups.
Another prevailing theory had suggested that the killing was orchestrated by external mercenaries hired in retaliation for previous killings allegedly ordered by Omubo.
However, Commissioner Idu clarified that the police investigation pointed to an internal power struggle within the Bobos cult group. He stated that those members responsible for Omubo's death were motivated by the desire to profit from the establishment of a new leadership hierarchy within the organization.
The Commissioner assured residents that the police were committed to ending cult-related violence in the state. He acknowledged that Omubo had a history of criminal activity but emphasized that his death was the result of an internal dispute within his own gang.
Idu also disclosed that the police had previously apprehended Omubo for illegal possession of firearms but were compelled to release him, though he did not provide specific details surrounding the circumstances of that release.
Idu explained that “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 inter cult rivalry in order to profit from his death."
“It is on good authority that the deceased has been involved in nefarious activity. The last altercation with the police is 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 added.
In addition to the Omubo case, Commissioner Idu announced the arrest of nine suspects for their alleged involvement in various other crimes, including cultism, kidnapping, armed robbery, unlawful possession of firearms, and murder.
In one of these cases, Mohammed Adamu, a 50-year-old native of Gombe State, was arrested alongside Adiamakubo Orubo, 37, in connection with the alleged disappearance of Ashiru Ishiaku, a 26-year-old native of Kano State, along with his tricycle on April 29, 2025.
Another arrest involved David Ngo, 36, a native of Brass Local Government Area and a member of the notorious Islanders cult group, who was apprehended for the alleged stabbing death of Goodwill Ovuru at Agudama-Ekpetiama Community, Yenagoa Local Government Area, on April 16, 2025.
Furthermore, Monday Daniel, 28, was arrested by police at Onopa Community in Yenagoa Local Government Area for an alleged armed robbery attack on Amarachi Emeachi at her residence around Revenue House, Onopa. According to the Police Commissioner, “a group of four men armed with guns dispossessed her of her Redmi phone valued at N180,000.”
Finally, the Police Commissioner stated that “On the 4th of May, 2025, one Endurance Odambe Chinedu, 24, from Ndokwa-East Local Government Area of Delta State was arrested at Agbia community in Yenagoa at 1.00pm with 10 live cartridges."
“During interrogation, the suspect confessed to being a member of the Black Axe confraternity also known as Aye cult group.
During execution of search warrant, a battle axe, a black beret bearing the cult groupinsignia and crusher was recovered in his house.”