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.
The police said Oro allegedly engaged one Samuel Daniel, a 21-year-old suspected member of a notorious cult group, to carry out the killing following a dispute reportedly linked to church membership drive and property issues.
In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Musa Mohammed, disclosed that the arrests were made on January 28, 2026, at about 10:35 a.m., based on credible intelligence. According to him, the suspects — Samuel Daniel, from Nembe Ogbolomabiri Community in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, and Pastor Elijah Oro, a 59-year-old from Ozoro Community in Delta State — were arrested in connection with the alleged plot to kill a prophet whose name was withheld.
Mohammed said preliminary investigations revealed that Daniel was arrested within the premises of the targeted prophet and had confessed to being a member of the Greenlanders Confraternity. He was allegedly hired by Pastor Oro to carry out the assassination. He added that investigations were ongoing to establish the motive behind the alleged plan and to uncover any other individuals involved.
The Bayelsa State Police Command reiterated its commitment to the protection of lives and property and urged residents to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies.
