Fear has gripped residents of some parts of Bayelsa metropolis as gunmen suspected to be cultists unleashed terror in the adjoining communities, killing and maiming innocent citizens in area.

Our correspondent reports that the raging cult war has paralyzed social activities in the communities as people now desert the streets while traders closed their shops early for fear of being attack by the rampaging cultists.

South-South Punch gathered that two people were killed and another injured last Saturday at Famgbe, while one young man was killed at Ogu on Sunday.

According to sources, one of the victims in the Famgbe attack popularly known as ?Today Today? was outside smoking cigarettes when he sighted a group of boys moving towards his direction.

A community source who spoke on condition of anonymity added he decided to run for his life but the bullet hit him in the process as he escaped with the bullet wound to his house, adding that the cultists followed the trace of blood to his house where he was hiding, broke in and killed him.

Another man known as African China was also shot and killed outside while another unnamed resident who was parking sand with a wheelbarrow escaped with bullet wounds.

The source told South-South Punch that before last Saturday?s attack, one Iniye, a known cultist had been killed on Sunday, May 11.

It was gathered that at Ogu, the victim was said to have seen a group of cultists armed with dangerous weapons entering the community and he warned other residents to go into their homes for safety.

However, he later went out to urinate and he was shot on the abdomen, and his sister who rushed outside on hearing his cry of anguish, was shot on her breasts, but survived.

At Swali, Ogu, Akaba, Obogoro, Famgbe and Obele areas of Yenagoa, it was gathered that shop owners now close early for fear of being attack by the cultists.

At the Swali Ultra-Modern Market, one of the security men who was once a cultist, was shot and killed last weekend as the cult war intensified.

On Monday, at about 6.00pm at the Swali Ultra-Modern Market, a group of cultists armed with AK-47 entered and shot through the door of one shop. There was however no casualty.

Traders along Harbour Road close to the market had to close their shops earlier around 8.00pm because of the sound of gunshots from the slaughter area of the market.

Last weekend, the shooting at the Obele area was so intense that vehicles plying through the area had to look for alternative routes, according to an eyewitness.

A concerned citizen simply known as Harry said, ?People can no longer stay out late at night because the cultists no longer target rival cult members. They are now killing innocent people.?

One trader who heard Monday?s shooting told our correspondent that, ?We had to close early because of the shooting. We had to be careful not be caught out by them.?

Some residents believe that the current situation is political saying that since the killing of the Bobos cult leader last month, nothing was the same anymore.

When reached for comment, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Bayelsa State Police Command, Mr. Musa Mohammed, said he was outside the state.

?I am outside the state for a conference and cannot say anything now,? he stated. (The PUNCH)

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