Manhunt for the killers of a popular barefooted crime fighting Divisional Police Officer (DPO), SP Bako Angbasim, in Rivers state has led to the arrest of six suspects.
Bako, the DPO of Ahoada, was brutally killed by suspected members of Iceland cult group on Friday, September 8, while returning from an operation at Odumude forest, where he reportedly went to dislodge camps operated by cultists and kidnappers.
His killers ambushed him and engaged his team in a gun duel but captured him alive when members of his team retreated following shortage of ammunition.
The suspected cultists decapitated him and mutilated his body, an action that provoked tension in the state.
The state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, who was angry at the development declared one Gift Okpara Okpolowo, aka 2Baba known as the leader of the killer gang wanted and placed N100m bounty on him.
The rattled governor further suspended the traditional ruler of the community, where the incident happened, His Majesty Eze Cassidy Ikegbidi, Eze IgbubAkoj II for surrendering his domain to a terror leaders.
It was gathered that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Nwonyi Emeka Polycarp, led his team for a special operation in the community to recover the body of the slain DPO.
Residents in the community were said to have fled their homes following confusion, fear and tension caused by the brutal killing of the DPO.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed that during the operation, CP Polycarp, along with his management team and tactical units, arrested six persons in connection with the incident.
She said the purpose of the operation, which was carried out on Saturday was to recover the deceased DPO’s body and conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the community.
Iringe-Koko said: “During this operation, six suspects were apprehended within the community. Among the items seized were a locally crafted pistol and various charms.
“These suspects and the confiscated items are currently under police custody and are undergoing interrogation at the State CID, Port Harcourt. As a result of these developments, the community has been evacuated by its residents”.
She said a new DPO, SP Zuokumor Richard, had been assigned to the division adding that the new DPO was accompanied by half a unit of men from Mopol 48, one-third unit from Mopol 19, 56, and tactical teams.
She said: “He has been tasked with a thorough search of the area, apprehension of the culprits responsible for the DPO’s demise, recovery of the body, and location of any operational weapons used. This operation will continue while the investigation remains ongoing.”
On his part, the state governor, Fubara, convened an emergency meeting on Sunday and charged security agencies in the state to smoke out the killers of Bako Angbashim.
The governor specifically tasked the security agencies to get the prime suspect, Gift Okpara Okpolowu, at all cost as a clear statement that the state is not a safe haven for criminals.
The governor in a statement signed by his Special Assistant, Media, described the incident as unfortunate and barbaric, sympathized with the Nigerian Police and the family of the slain officer as he vowed to make Rivers State unsafe for criminal activities.
Fubara, who expressed confidence in the security agencies to apprehend the culprits, said Rivers State had never been a safe haven for criminals”
Fubara said: “It is really unfortunate that in our state where we are doing everything to reduce crime rate, a group of miscreants portray the state as being unsafe, we honestly feel very sad over this incident. As a government we will not rest until whoever is responsible for this act is brought to book.
We have gone further to show our commitment in this issue by placing a bounty on the criminals and also suspended the traditional ruler of that locality. We will do everything on our part to ensure we get to the end of this matter, we must get him at all cost. Rivers state has never and will not be a home of criminality.I believe that the caliber of men that are heading the security unit of the state will do everything within their powers to settle these matters.”
Those who attended the Emergency Security Meeting were Brig. Gen. E. U. Effiong, 6 Division Garrison Commander Nigerian Army; Group Captain A. H. Idris, Commander 115, Special Operation Group; Commodore D.O.C. Igbo, Commander NNS, Pathfinder; CP Polycap Emeka Nwonyi, Rivers State Commissioner of Police; the Director of the Department of State Services, Rivers State Command and Commandant Basil Igwebueze, NSCDC Commandant, Rivers State Command.
