YENAGOA, Nigeria — Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has approved the immediate suspension of the Paramount Ruler of Swali Community, His Royal Highness Wilcox Seiyefa Job, citing failure to provide leadership in the fight against crime and cultism.
The decision was announced in a joint statement issued on Thursday, May 22, 2025, by the Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, and the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Thompson Amule.
According to the statement, the monarch’s suspension follows “credible intelligence” linking two of his sons to cult activities in the community.
“The Monarch’s suspension is due to the traditional ruler’s inability to show leadership expected of his position in the fight against crime and cultism amidst credible intelligence that two of his sons are involved in cult activities in the community,” the statement read.
As part of the state’s response, the Governor has directed the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police to declare the two royal sons wanted, along with all individuals identified as participants in cult activities within Swali.
The statement added that all those involved are to be arrested for investigation and prosecution.
The suspension marks a significant intervention in a long-running issue of insecurity and cult-related violence in parts of Yenagoa Local Government Area.
Authorities have increasingly come under pressure to curb cultism, which has been linked to a series of violent incidents in recent months.
There has been no public comment yet from HRH Wilcox Seiyefa Job regarding the suspension or the allegations against his sons.
