A 30-year-old man, Darlington Watson, was brutally stoned to death by members of a rival cult group in the Agudama-Epie community, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Wednesday evening. The tragic incident is part of the ongoing conflict between two rival cult factions, the Greenlanders and the Bobous, which has been escalating over control of the new transport terminal at Igbogene, a community on the outskirts of Yenagoa.
According to PUNCH Metro, Darlington, who was a member of the Greenlanders cult group, was traveling in a tricycle (locally known as “keke”) when the attackers, suspected to be members of the Bobous cult, stopped the vehicle. The assailants dragged him out of the moving tricycle and proceeded to attack him with sticks and stones. He was reportedly assaulted so violently that he eventually succumbed to his injuries and died at the scene.
A Community Torn by Violence
The eyewitness, who requested to remain anonymous for security reasons, recounted the horrific details of the assault. “The boy was in a tricycle when suspected members of a rival cult group stopped the vehicle, dragged him out, and brutally assaulted him with sticks and stones until he succumbed to his injuries and gave up the ghost,” the witness said. The incident took place around 5:15 pm on Wednesday, near one of the Pentecostal churches in Agudama-Epie, Yenagoa.
Following the brutal attack, Darlington’s family took possession of his body, and the assailants fled the scene before the police arrived. This has added to growing concerns about the continuing violence linked to cult-related activities in the area.
Cult Rivalry Over Transport Terminal Control
The clash between the Greenlanders and Bobous cult groups has been intensifying for months, with a key point of contention being the control of the newly established transport terminal in the Igbogene community. This rivalry has led to several fatalities as both groups vie for dominance and influence over the terminal, which is a vital hub for transport in the region.
Police Investigations and Calls for Caution
Bayelsa State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Musa Mohammed, confirmed the details of the killing, noting that a police patrol team had responded to the scene. “Information at my disposal has it that yesterday (Wednesday) at about 1900 hours, the Divisional Police Officer led the patrol team to the area. Bobous and Greenlander cult groups were clashing at Agudama-Epie. In the process, one Darlington Watson, a 30-year-old from the community and a member of the Greenlander group, was inflicted with machete cuts and stoned to death by the rival group,” he said.
Mohammed further stated that the police arrived at the scene to find that the deceased’s family had already taken the body for burial. He assured the public that investigations into the killing were ongoing and that efforts were being intensified to apprehend those responsible. He also advised young people to stay away from cultism and criminal activities that fuel such violence.
The death of Darlington Watson is a stark reminder of the devastating impact of cult wars, which continue to plague communities in many parts of Nigeria. As authorities work to contain the violence, residents and officials alike are calling for greater efforts to tackle the root causes of cultism and ensure peace and security in the region.
