On Tuesday, a joint operation by the Rapid Response Team and the Anti-Cultism unit of the Bayelsa State Police Command led to the apprehension of a 47-year-old man with a physical disability, along with five others, following an alleged assault on a vigilante member in Kolo community, located within Ogbia local government area.
The disabled individual, named Okpara Balami, is reportedly the leader of an armed youth faction in Kolo community. He has been frequently linked to acts of terrorism, cult-related activities, and violent attacks targeting residents in the area.
These militant groups have also been implicated in multiple assaults on the Kolo Police Station itself.
According to local sources, the incident stemmed from a minor confrontation, after which Balami allegedly commanded his gang to violently attack a young man identified as part of the community’s vigilante group.
Responding swiftly to the disturbance, the Rapid Response Squad under CSP Bishop Elemide, alongside the Anti-Cultism team led by CSP Nsimo Benson, the Kolo Divisional Police, and representatives from the Community Development Committee, launched a coordinated raid that resulted in the suspects’ capture.
During the operation, police forces utilized drone technology to provide aerial surveillance and tactical support.
Investigations at the suspects’ hideout-also serving as the gang’s operational base-led to the seizure of a firearm and several lethal machetes.
However, community insiders revealed that one member of the group managed to evade arrest.
A vigilante member from Kolo, speaking anonymously, expressed that the detention of these individuals was long overdue, emphasizing their notorious involvement in cultism, violent assaults, and attacks on law enforcement within the community.
When reached for comment, Musa Mohammed, the Police Public Relations Officer for the state, stated that he had not yet received a full briefing and could not provide detailed information at this time.
