The Bayelsa State Police Command has disclosed that Olotu Omubo, the leader of the Bobos cult group, was killed by fellow cult members as part of an internal power struggle.
Commissioner of Police Francis Idu made this known during a media briefing on Monday in Yenagoa, the state capital.
He explained that Omubo, who was a native of Nembe in Nembe Local Government Area and a beneficiary of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, was murdered by his own group members looking to seize leadership of the cult.
Omubo was gunned down on April 24 along Goodnews Street in the Azikoro area of Yenagoa.
Initial speculation had pointed to a rival cult group or hired killers seeking revenge for past crimes linked to the deceased. However, recent findings suggest it was an orchestrated internal plot.
CP Idu emphasized that intelligence reports indicate that 95% of evidence gathered points to an internal conflict rather than an external attack.
“His assailants tried to disguise it as inter-gang rivalry when it was actually internal betrayal aimed at taking control of the group,” he said.
Though Omubo had a known history of criminal activities, the police once released him after arresting him for illegal possession of firearms—an action the Commissioner said was influenced externally.
“I’ve always warned that intervening in criminal investigations to release suspects can lead to serious consequences,” Idu said.
The Commissioner also announced the arrest of nine suspects linked to various crimes across the state, including cultism, armed robbery, kidnapping, and unlawful possession of weapons.
Among the suspects is Mohammed Adamu, 50, from Gombe State, and Adiamakubo Orubo, 37, for their alleged involvement in the disappearance of Ashiru Ishiaku, a 26-year-old Kano native who went missing with his tricycle on April 29.
David Ngo, 36, from Brass LGA and a member of the Islanders cult, was also apprehended for allegedly stabbing a man, Goodwill Ovuru, to death in Agudama-Ekpetiama, Yenagoa.
In another case, 28-year-old Monday Daniel was arrested in Onopa for allegedly robbing a woman of her phone valued at N180,000 at gunpoint.
Also arrested was Endurance Odambe Chinedu, 24, from Delta State, caught in possession of 10 live cartridges in Agbia.
He confessed to being a member of the Black Axe cult, with further search yielding a battle axe, a black beret with cult insignia, and a crusher from his residence.