A 30 year-old man, Darlington Watson, was on Wednesday evening stoned to death by rival cult members at the Agudama-Epie community in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, as the ongoing cult war between the Greenlanders and Bobous intensifies.

TheNigerian Metro gathered on Thursday that Darlington, a member of the Greenlanders cult group, was dragged out of a moving tricycle before he was stoned to death by the rival group.

Several lives have been lost in the ongoing cult war between the Bobous and Greenlanders over the control of the new transport terminal at the Igbogene community on the outskirts of Yenagoa.

An eyewitness said, “The boy was in a tricycle (keke) 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 incident occurred around 5:15 pm on Wednesday, opposite one of the Pentecostal churches at Agudama-Epie in Yenagoa.”

The eyewitness said the family of the deceased had already taken away the corpse for burial and the assailants fled the scene before a police patrol team arrived.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Bayelsa State Police Command, Mr Musa Mohammed, confirmed the incident on Thursday saying investigations have been intensified to apprehend all those involved in the act.

Mohammed also advised young people against involvement in cult and other criminal groups.

He said, “Information at my disposal has it that yesterday (Wednesday) at about 1900 hours, based on information received, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) led the patrol team to the area.

“Bobous and Greenlander cult groups were clashing at Agudama-Epie; in the process, one Darlington Walson, 30 year-old from the community and a member of Greenlander group, as well, was inflicted with machete cuts and stoned to death by the rival group.

“On arrival at the scene, the family of the deceased had evacuated the corpse for burial; investigation has been intensified to apprehend the suspects involved in the killing.”

An elderly man identified as Augustine has lost his life after a female neighbour allegedly struck him on the head with a stone during a quarrel in the Railway axis of Elekahia, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

It was gathered that Augustine, who worked in the Trans-Amadi area of the metropolis, was resting in front of his apartment after returning from work when his female neighbour confronted him, accusing him of defecating behind the compound.

Angered by the accusation, Augustine questioned how someone of his age could be responsible, considering the presence of many children in the compound. This led to a heated argument between them.

A neighbour, Onyedikachi, who witnessed the incident, narrated what transpired.

He said, “The woman went behind the house and saw faeces. She then asked the man, who was sitting in front of his house, if he was responsible, and they started quarrelling. The man said he had just returned from work and questioned how an elderly man like him, over 60 years old, could do such a thing when there were children in the compound.

“The woman then picked up sand from the ground and threw it at the man. He got up from where he was sitting, and they began fighting.

“She then picked up a stone and struck him on the head. As I’m speaking to you, we are at Elekahia Police Station, and a crowd has gathered. The man is dead. His body is inside a car.”

Onyedikachi further stated that Augustine was taken to two different hospitals, both of which refused to attend to him. At the third hospital, he was confirmed dead.

When contacted, the Spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident, stating that the woman had been arrested.

Iringe-Koko said that while the suspect denied hitting the man with any object, an investigation is ongoing.

She stated, “Yes, I can confirm the incident. The woman has been arrested, and the matter has been transferred to the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department.

“During interrogation, the woman claimed that the man had hit her on the nose and that his children were fighting her, throwing stones at her. She said that while she was trying to dodge, a stone accidentally hit the man.

“As I said, she is in our custody, and the investigation is ongoing. At the conclusion of our inquiry, she may be charged to court.”