20-year-old Army cadet shot dead by gunmen in Bayelsa State, over 20 suspects arrested

A 20-year old undergraduate cadet of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna has been shot dead by gunmen suspected to be cultists in Bayelsa State on Saturday, July 8. 

It was gathered that Cadet Saviour Enoch, who was admitted into the NDA two years ago, was killed on Saturday about 8pm along Gwegwe/Navy Road at Ovom, Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. 

He was said to be on a holiday in Yenagoa from the NDA when the incident occurred.

According to Bodmas Kemepadei, the deceased was chatting with his visiting friend and Naval Rating with the Central Naval Command on the street when they heard screams from a victim whose bag was snatched by suspected cultists. 

"Saviour, who was a resident of the area, responded to the cry of help and went after the suspects. It was gathered that unknown to him (Saviour), other members of the cult group had hidden somewhere to ward off any rescue attempt and he was shot at a close range. It was further learnt that immediately they shot him, they all (cultists) disappeared in pandemonium created by the gruesome murder."

A spokesman for the Bayelsa State Police Command, Asinim Butswat, who confirmed the incident, said the police, through the community policing initiative had arrested no fewer than 20 persons in connection with the killing.

“The community has condemned that act in totality and they have come out en masse to show their support for the police in order to arrest the suspects. We have arrested some persons during a routine operation that was carried out after Saviour was shot." said Butswat. 

“About 20 persons have been arrested. I know that they have screened some of them. I do not know how many of them are linked directly to the killing. However, the community has volunteered useful information concerning the actual suspects who have been identified.” he added.