Yenagoa—Residents of Yenagoa metropolis, the capital city of Bayelsa state yesterday bemoaned the closure of the beef market following the invasion of the abattoir at Swali Market by cultists.
According to reports by Leadership newspaper, the notorious cult groups, identified as Bobos and Greenlanders demanded the sum of a thousand naira per cow.
It was gathered that the activities of the cult groups have been going on for over three months in the market with over N1.8million illegally collected from the members of the Butchers Association on numbers of cows delivered to the market.
A butcher in the market, who pleaded anonymity, said the transporters of the cows to the abattoir simply refused the cult members and their demands yesterday, leading to the shutting down of the abattoir.
He said, ” The drivers, who transport cow to the market refused to pay the illegal N1,000 fee and did not deliver any cow to the market.”.
It was also gathered that Swali community has recently become a hotbed for cult-related activities, with different cult groups partitioning the market into marked territorial sections for the collection of levies from traders, including N5,000 levy imposed on local boat operators.
Sources within the Bayelsa State government said government officials are well aware of the criminal activities of the cult members in the popular market yet nothing has been done to stop the trend.
“These supervising State Ministries and the SA, Security are treating the matter with levity and informing the State Governor that all is well. All is not well. These cult boys are threatening us with guns. We are calling on the state Governor, the Police and the residents to help us. We don’t want to die in the hands of these boys.”
It was gathered that several complaints have been sent to the supervising State Ministries and Security aides of the governor yet no reply.
However, members of the Butchers Association in the state confirmed to Leadership newspaper that there may not be beef sales for two weeks unless governor Douye Diri intervenes in the issue.