As police spread dragnet over one Gift Okpolowu, popularly known as 2Baba, Rivers State Government has declared him wanted over the gruesome murder of SP Bako Angbashim, the Ahoada Divisional Police Officer (DPO).
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara also placed a bounty of N100 million on 2Baba, who is the leader of the notorious Iceland cult group, identified as the prime suspect in the matter.
SP Angbashim said to have been shot dead during a mission to combat criminal activities in the Odumude area of Ahoada East Local Government Area in the state was dismembered after he was allegedly shot by his assailants.
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Cultists terrorising the Ahoada East and West LGAs in the state ambushed SP Angbashim on Friday night while returning from an operation.
Already, the Rivers State Police Command says it has commenced an investigation into the gruesome murder of a Divisional Police Officer, SP Bako Angbashim, in the Ahoada East Local Government Area of the state.
This is as the acting Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has condemned the gruesome murder of the Divisional Police Officer, Ahoada Division in Rivers State, SP Bako Angbashim.
In a statement he personally signed on Saturday, Fubara suspended the traditional ruler of Odiemudie community, His Majesty, Eze Cassidy Ikegbidi Eze Igbu Akoh II, for acts of complicity in ceding the control of his territory to 2Baba.
He said: “Yesterday, 8th September 2023 at about 7.00 pm, I was briefed on the security operations around the Odiemudie Community in the Ahoada East Local Government Area of the state and the gruesome murder of SP Bako Angbashim, the Ahoada Divisional Police Officer, by a bunch of criminals, presently at large.
“S.P Bako and his team ran into an ambush while returning from their operation where they were attacked by the criminals. Unfortunately, he was shot in the ensuing gunfire, captured and eventually murdered by his captors.
‘‘Credible intelligence from the security agencies traced the entire incident to one Gift David Okpara Okpolowu (a.k.a. 2-Baba) and his criminal gang, who have established camps in the locality and are responsible for the resurgence of violent crimes, including kidnapping and terrorism in Ahoada East Local Government Area of the State.
“As a responsible Government, we cannot fold our arms and allow criminals and crimes to rear their ugly heads and thrive in any part of our State.
“Accordingly, upon the review of the entire incident and the security situation in the affected areas with the security agencies, we have decided on the following measures to bring the murderers of SP Bako to justice and arrest the deteriorating security situation in the Ahoada East Local Government:
“First, the prime suspects, Mr. Gift David Okpara Okpolowu (a.k.a. 2-Baba) and all members of his criminal gang are hereby declared wanted. Secondly, a bounty of one hundred million (N100,000,000.00) naira is hereby placed on his head for anyone who gives useful information that would lead to his arrest and prosecution.
”Thirdly, His Majesty, Eze Cassidy Ikegbidi Eze Igbu Akoh II, is hereby suspended indefinitely for acts of complicity in ceding control of his territory to the notorious David Gift and his gang to freely operate and carry out their criminal activities”.
IGP Condemns the killing
However, the IG, in a statement on Saturday by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, described the DPO’s murder as “utterly mindless” and “despicable.”
He stressed that such attacks on any operative of the Force would not be tolerated, as he vowed to ensure the perpetrators of the murder were apprehended and prosecuted.
The statement reads, “The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, stands resolutely appalled by the cowardly and utterly mindless killing of SP Bako Angbashim, who was, at the time of his passing, the Divisional Police Officer, Ahoada Division in Rivers State.
Rivers police join hunt for 2Baba
The Public Relations Officer of Rivers State Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, in a statement on Saturday said the Commissioner of Police, Nwonyi Emeka, is determined to bring the perpetrators of the heinous act to justice.
The police revealed that a significant number of criminals opened fire on the officers and that, “in the face of the adversity, he valiantly held his ground, while his men, depleted of ammunition, made a tactical retreat.”
The statement said regrettably, during the engagement, SP Angbashim sustained fatal injuries, and one of his informants also sustained a gunshot injury and is currently receiving medical treatment.
Iringe-Koko, said the criminals seized the body of the DPO, forcing the remaining officers to return to their base for reinforcement, and that “efforts were made to rescue and recover his body, with assistance sought from the army teams stationed at FOB Base Etraco, but the operation proved challenging due to the extremely dark conditions within the dense bush.”
The state Police Command described SP Angbashim as an officer who “displayed exemplary courage during a mission to combat criminal activities in Ahoada.”
The command condoled with the family of the diseased and those affected by the distressing incident.
SP Angbashim was popular in the state for his doggedness in the fight against insecurity in the Ogoni area of the state, before he was deployed to Ahoada in 2023. He is known for going around barefoot.
