This edition of the weekly update spotlights gang violence in the Niger Delta with a focus on cult related killings in Bayelsa State. According to data (see map below), gang violence caused over 170 fatalities in Bayelsa State between 2018 and 2020. Recent incidents show a resurgence of cult related killings in the State, after a relative decrease in reported incidents during the last quarter of 2020. Over the last three months, more than five residents have been killed in a series of clashes between rival cult gangs in the State. In January, for instance, a resident was reported-ly killed during a clash between two cult gangs from Oruma and Otuasega communities, Ogbia LGA. In February, two persons were reportedly killed and many others injured in two separate clashes between rival cult gangs in Erepa and Agudama-Epie communities, Yenagoa LGA. In April, a residents was reportedly killed and several others injured during a clash between two rival cult gangs in Obele community, Yenagoa LGA. Recently, on April 14, 2021, a male university student was reportedly shot dead by a cultist in Amassoma community, Southern Ijaw LGA.https://pindfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Niger-Delta-Weekly-Update-April-18-24-2021.pdf[embeddoc url="https://pindfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Niger-Delta-Weekly-Update-April-18-24-2021.pdf%22]
