Odahiekwu Ogunde, Yenagoa
Some traders, residents and commuters around the popular Tombia market in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, were robbed of their cash and valuables when rival cult groups engaged in a free-for-all amid gun shootings on Friday.Eyewitnesses said the gun battle between the cult groups identified as Bobos and Greenlanders began in the morning and lasted several hours before a combined team of the military and police came and restored peace.A resident, who pleaded anonymity, alleged that the cult clash was as a result of a struggle for the control of drug trade around the ever-busy Tombia market in Etegwe/Edepie community of the Yenagoa metropolis.The eyewitness said, “They (cult groups) have been struggling for the control of drug trade in the highly populated area for some time now. So, as a result of the battle for supremacy, Bobos cult group killed one member of Greenlanders.”So, yesterday things got out of hand and about 1am in the night, we started hearing gunshots up till this morning. By morning they have destroyed properties and looted valuable. “By morning, the shootings stopped and when we thought the battle was over, they returned, this time throwing bottles at each other and those that were trapped in the middle were either robbed or injured.”A trader, Mrs Wanemi Taylor, who resides at Kpansia community in Yenagoa, was robbed of N70, 000 on her way to buy garri at Zarama market.Explaining her ordeal, she said, “I was inside a tricycle heading to Zarama market to buy garri. I didn’t know that there was cult clash at Tombia market area until we got to the roundabout. “The driver was attempting to divert from the area when two armed boys held us at a gunpoint and collected my N70, 000 and phone. As I speak with you, my business is finished.”Another resident, who spoke in confidence, called on the relevant authorities to tackle the case of incessant cult clashes in the area.The source urged the government to deploy security agencies to the area to carry out discreet investigation into the alleged drug trade activities that had been overtly or covertly creating the supremacy battle between the cult groups.