At least five people are feared killed following a renewed clash between rival cult groups in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.

The violence, which reportedly began at the weekend, involved the Bobos and Greenlanders groups, with incidents recorded in Agudama, Obele and the Back of St. Peters areas of the city.

The renewed clashes have raised concerns over the breakdown of an earlier peace agreement reached among some cult groups in the state.

Sources said a youth was allegedly killed and beheaded during an attack in Agudama, while another person was reportedly shot and later rescued by a neighbour.

The condition of the injured victim was not immediately known.

The immediate cause of the renewed violence was also unclear, although sources said the Bobos and Greenlanders had remained rivals despite previous efforts to broker peace between cult groups in the state.

Some areas identified as having previously recorded cult-related activities, including Imgbi Road, Ovom and Obele, reportedly experienced reduced movement as residents feared further attacks and possible police operations.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Bayelsa, DSP Musa Mohammed, confirmed that suspects had been arrested and that normalcy had been restored in the affected areas.

“Suspects have been arrested, and law and order has since been restored,” Mohammed said.

Following the development, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ajao Saka Adewale, ordered intensified operations against cultism and related violence across the state.

He directed Divisional Police Officers and tactical commanders to increase patrols in vulnerable locations, identify emerging threats and act promptly on credible intelligence concerning planned clashes, initiation ceremonies and recruitment activities.

The command also said it was strengthening engagement with community leaders to identify tensions early and prevent them from escalating into violence.

Adewale warned cult groups, their sponsors and anyone involved in organising, financing or facilitating cult-related crimes that they would be investigated and prosecuted where evidence supported such action.

He urged parents and guardians to discourage their children and wards from joining cult groups and called on residents to report planned attacks, recruitment activities and other suspicious developments to the police.

The command also cautioned residents against reprisal attacks, harbouring suspects and spreading rumours capable of escalating the situation, urging them to allow security agencies to investigate and address the violence.