- Police Arrest Pastor, Cultist Over Alleged Plot to Kill Rival Cleric
- DSP Musa Mohammed explained that SWAT operatives apprehended both suspects from Nembe Ogbolomabiri Community in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State
- Abubakar said the victim was found restrained but has since been rescued and is receiving appropriate care
Operatives of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit of the Bayelsa State Police Command have arrested a cleric, Pastor Elijah Oro, over an alleged plot to assassinate a rival pastor in the state.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that the police authorities said the suspect allegedly contracted a 21-year-old man, Samuel Daniel, identified as a member of a cult group, to carry out the planned killing.
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The alleged motive, according to preliminary findings, is linked to disputes over church membership and property.
In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Musa Mohammed, said the arrest was made on January 28, 2026, following credible intelligence. He explained that SWAT operatives apprehended both suspects, Samuel Daniel from Nembe Ogbolomabiri Community in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, and Pastor Elijah Oro from Ozoro Community in Delta State.
Mohammed disclosed that Samuel Daniel was arrested within the premises of the intended victim, whose identity was withheld, and later confessed to being a member of the Greenlanders Confraternity. He further alleged that Daniel admitted he was hired by Pastor Oro to carry out the assassination.
The police spokesman said investigations are ongoing to establish the full circumstances and motive behind the alleged plot, assuring the public of the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property across the state.
Meanwhile, the Zamfara State Police Command has rescued a man abducted by armed bandits in Tsafe Local Government Area of the state.
The victim, identified as Abdullahi Isah Nagari, was kidnapped on January 29, 2026, and later rescued during a joint operation by police and military personnel, according to the command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Yazid Abubakar.
Abubakar said the victim was found restrained but has since been rescued and is receiving appropriate care. He added that efforts are underway to track down and arrest those responsible for the abduction, while security patrols have been intensified in the are
The Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Balarabe Maikaba, reiterated the command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property, urging residents to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information.
The police noted that the rescue operation is part of broader efforts to curb banditry and improve security across Zamfara State.
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