A police officer identified as Oboh Goodluck has been shot dead by suspected cultists along OMPADEC Road, Amarata axis of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
The tragic incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday when the officer, who was off duty and dressed in plain clothes, was reportedly attacked by hoodlums attempting to rob him of his mobile phone and other belongings.
Amarata, a densely populated neighborhood in Yenagoa, has remained notorious for violent cult clashes since December last year when rival groups engaged in a bloody supremacy battle.
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Following the killing, tension engulfed the community as police operatives launched a heavy raid in the area. Eyewitnesses reported that security personnel stormed parts of Amarata on Tuesday morning, firing shots into the air while arresting residents indiscriminately.
Several families were said to have fled their homes to avoid being caught up in the chaos. One resident, who pleaded anonymity, alleged that policemen destroyed properties during the raid.
“Our windows were smashed during the raid. The entire community is living in fear of further violence,” the resident said.
Community members have since appealed to security operatives to show restraint in order to prevent further escalation, warning that continued clashes could result in a wider breakdown of law and order in Yenagoa, the state capital.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Bayelsa State, DSP Musa Muhammad, confirmed the killing of the officer. He stated that investigations were ongoing to apprehend those behind the attack.
Residents are now calling on the Bayelsa State Government and security agencies to urgently restore peace in Amarata and prevent additional loss of lives.
