Cult groups clash, kill Assembly deputy clerk

The Deputy Clerk of Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Mr. Geoffrey Nemine, has been shot dead.

He was killed during a violent clash between youths suspected to be members of rival cult groups in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.

The incident took place on Sunday in the Agudama area of the Yenagoa metropolis.

It was learnt that detectives had yet to establish the cult groups that were involved in the clash which claimed the life of the Assembly worker.

However, eyewitnesses have given three different accounts as to how Nemine was killed.

The first account, our correspondent learnt, was that the deceased was standing near his house with a bag containing money when the hoodlums shot him.

The hoodlums were said to have fled the area when they noticed the man had died, but did not take the bag.

The second account by some eyewitnesses suggested that the hoodlums had gone to the deceased wife’s supermarket to steal the money made for the day.

They said the deceased was there while the operations lasted, and as they were about to leave, they shot the man dead.

However, the third version indicated that the deceased was hit by a stray bullet meant for a rival cult group.

But the Public Relations Officer, Bayelsa State Command, Mr. Asinim Butswat, said Nemine was hit by a stray bullet during a clash between two cult groups.

Butswat added that one suspect had been arrested in connection with the killing.

He said, “The deceased was hit by a stray bullet during a clash between two rival cult groups. Our preliminary investigation showed that Geoffrey Nemine was standing near his residence in the Agudama area of Yenagoa when a stray bullet meant for a rival cult group member hit and killed him.

“We have arrested one person in connection with the incident. We are still investigating the matter