₦70,000 Debt Dispute: Eight Suspected Cultists Arrested Over Assault On NDU Student

The Bayelsa State Police Command has arrested eight suspected cult members, including six students of the Niger Delta University (NDU), Amassoma, over the alleged violent assault of an undergraduate in Yenagoa.

The suspects were arrested following an alleged attack on Prince Hansen, a 300-level student of the institution, who was reportedly beaten inside a hotel on Mike Okokpo Street, Yenagoa, during a dispute allegedly linked to a ₦70,000 debt.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Bayelsa State, DSP Musa Mohammed, confirmed the arrests in a statement issued on Saturday, saying operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit moved in after receiving information about the incident.

According to the police, the attack occurred at about 10 p.m on July 14, after a concerned resident alerted authorities to the incident.

Mohammed said the police received a distress call that a group of eight young men suspected to be cult members had allegedly lodged in a hotel and attacked the student over claims that he owed them money.

He said the victim sustained serious bodily injuries during the incident.

"Following a distress call by a public-spirited individual along Mike Okokpo Street, Yenagoa, that a group of eight young men suspected to be cultists lodged in a hotel ganged up and beat one Prince Hansen, a 300-level student of the Niger Delta University, Amassoma, within the hotel premises, causing him grievous bodily harm over an allegation that the victim was owing N70,000, operatives attached to the Violent Crime Response Unit swung into action," the statement read.

The police identified the arrested suspects as Desmond Linus, 20; Richman Serbokuro 21, Plain Lion, 19, Richman Joel 20, Solomon Damian 23, Destiny Serbokuro 24, Isaac Goodnews 22 and Theresa Francis 22.

The command disclosed that six of the suspects are students of Niger Delta University.

During a search conducted after the arrests, police said items including substances suspected to be Indian hemp, Swinol and charms were recovered from the suspects.

The command said investigations into the incident are ongoing, adding that the suspects would be charged to court after the completion of the investigation.

Reaffirming the commitment of the police to tackling cult-related violence and other criminal activities in the state, DSP Mohammed urged residents to continue providing timely and credible information that could assist security agencies in preventing crime.

"The command reiterates its unwavering commitment to combating cultism and other violent crimes across the state," he said.

The police also appealed to members of the public to continue supporting security efforts by reporting suspicious activities and providing useful information to enhance safety across Bayelsa State.