Two Students Arrested After Cult Clash Leads to Death

The Bayelsa State Police Command has arrested two suspected cultists after a student was killed at the Niger Delta University in Amassoma. This incident happened during a suspected cult clash in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.

The police said the suspects were caught while trying to retaliate for the death of another gang member who was killed in the same attack.

The victim, 20-year-old Ebube Jonathan, was a 200-level management science student at NDU. He was attacked by unknown assailants on Kabaka Street in Amassoma around 2 p.m. on Tuesday.

According to the police, Jonathan was suspected to be a member of the Black Axe confraternity. He was attacked with machetes and shot before a doctor confirmed he was dead.

On Thursday, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Musa Mohammed, said officers from the Amassoma Division acted quickly after the attack. This led to the arrest of two suspects.

The suspects are Godswin Adobu, 24, who is a 300-level Fine and Applied Arts student at Niger Delta University, and Tarilaefa Fesingha, 21.

Mohammed stated that they were arrested at Ending Pele in Amassoma while they were allegedly planning to avenge Jonathan’s death. The police also recovered two locally made pistols, two live rounds of 9mm ammunition, and some suspected illegal drugs from them.

The statement said, "The Bayelsa State Police Command has arrested two suspected cultists and recovered two locally made pistols with two live 9mm rounds of ammunition following a cult-related incident that claimed the life of a suspected cult member in the Amassoma Community, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State."

"On Tuesday, 7th July 2026, at about 1400 hours, one Ebube Jonathan, a 200-Level student of Management Science, Niger Delta University, Amassoma, and a suspected member of the Black Axe Confraternity, was attacked by yet-to-be-identified assailants along Kabaka Street, Amassoma. The victim was macheted, shot, and later confirmed dead by a medical doctor."

"Following a swift follow-up operation at about 1600 hours on the same day, operatives attached to Amassoma Division responded promptly and arrested two suspects: Godswin Adobu, 24 years old, a 300-level student of Fine and Applied Arts, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Niger Delta University and Tarilaefa Fesingha, 21 years old. They were both arrested at Ending Pele, Amassoma, where they had allegedly mobilised in an attempt to avenge the death of their gang member."

The Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State Command, Iyamah Daniel Edebor, said the command is committed to fighting cult-related violence and other crimes in the state. He warned criminals to stop their illegal activities or face serious consequences.

He also urged residents to continue giving timely and reliable information to help in the fight against crime. Cult-related violence has been a constant issue in Amassoma, where Niger Delta University is located.

Rival cult groups have been involved in many violent clashes lately, leading to deaths and injuries, raising security fears in the university community and nearby areas.