Suspected cultists kill Local Artisan in mistaken identity at Azikoro in Yenagoa

Unidentified gunmen suspected to be cultists have shot and killed a middle aged man Senitonkumo Out who resides at Azikoro-Agbura road in Yenagoa Local Government Area (LGA) of Bayelsa.

The victim known as Murphy was very popular for his skills in suspended ceiling installations as he was reputed to be very reliable.

Investigations by a Correspondent on Wednesday indicates that the victim who hails from Oweikorogha community in Southern Ijaw LGA may have been killed by some suspected cultists who stormed the area in search of a different target.

It was gathered that the gunmen suspected to be cultists were on a mission searching for their target whose nickname was given as ‘Peerooo’ before Murphy accidentally met them and was shot in the process

Residents of the neighbourhood who expressed grief and shock over the incident called on Bayelsa government and security agencies to protect them from men of the underworld who frequently make incursions into the area.

 

Landlord of the deceased Mr. Allen Ofoin who narrated what happened said for the two years he stayed in his property, he was a law abiding and easy going tenant.

A neighbour of the deceased, Pere Tuboebi noted that the absence of power supply and police patrols may be factors that are responsible for the rising wave of criminal activities in the area.

A former Councillor in Yenagoa LGA Amasa Pulovie described the incident as unfortunate, calling for the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators.

Immediate elder brother to Murphy, Ifiemi Otu who wept uncontrollably said the victim was the last in a family of nine children comprising six male and three female.

When our reporter visited the area on Tuesday policemen from Azikoro Police Division, family members and sympathizers were seen trying to remove the corpse of the deceased from the crime scene to deposit it at the mortuary.

SP Asinim Butswat, Spokesman for the Bayelsa Police Command, confirmed the incident but said he was awaiting details from the Divisional Police Officer at Azikoro.