By Ignatius Chukwu
The world may not know that those who killed the gallant police fighter, SP Bako Angbashim, are going down set by set.
Already, according to police authorities, four of the suspected killers have gone down, some arrested, but the kingpin is said to be on the run.
The gang has rather made a video to show they are strong and ready for war.
Details:
The police in Rivers State have shot dead four suspected killers of SP Bako Angbashim, gallant police officer who was crushing gangsters in the state but met his death two weeks ago at Ahoada.
Two crack units were said to have carried out the attack that led to the killing of the four suspected killers.
The shooting took place in the forest in Ahoada but only four died while the gang leader and some others escaped and have released video clips showing them with long rifles ready for battle.
Confirming the killing of four suspects, the Rivers State police commissioner, Abonyi Polycarp Emeka, told newsmen in Port Harcourt Tuesday, September 19, 2023, that the command got what he called actionable intelligence.
She revealed that the gang of notorious Iceland cultists, armed robbery suspects and kidnappers led by one Gift David Okpara Okpolonwo (aka 2-baba) who he said led his notorious gang to brutally murder Bako.
Bako was the divisional police officer (DPO) of Ahoada who was captured and decapitated on 8th September 2023. The CP said the killers were in their hideout at Odemuide Forest, Ahoada-East Local Government Area.
He said: “Following the information, a combined team of Command Tactical Operatives and Area Commander Ahoada stormed the forest in the efforts to arrest the notorious hoodlums and possible recovery of the corpse of the late officer.”
He said the hoodlums were battle-ready to inflict more injury and casualty on Police, and immediately engaged the operatives in fierce gun battle.
He said during four of the notorious hoodlums, who are yet to be identified, sustained fatal gunshot injuries while others allegedly escaped into the forest. He added that three suspects were arrested and a locally made pistol recovered from them.
Meanwhile, he went on, the four notorious suspected criminals who sustained serious injuries were rushed to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) for medical attention but were confirmed dead by the doctor on duty. “Operation is still ongoing to be sustained, and efforts to arrest the notorious gang leader and other members of his gang.”
The most intriguing could be the arrest of some organ harvesters which took place following credible intelligence. He said policemen attached to Abua/Odual Division arrested the suspects known as ‘Last Market’ and another known as ‘Lecturer’ and another known as ‘Original’ both of Obarany community in Abua/Odual LGA of Rivers State, for the murder of one Progress Ezuo and harvesting of his male organs at the community.
“The suspects who fled from the community were arrested and transferred to State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for discrete investigation.”
The CP gave update on other crime situations in the state, saying the CP Strike Force attached to the Rivers State Police Command, acting on credible information, arrested two male suspects in a black Toyota Camry with registration number Lagos MUS 73 DQ at Igwuruta in Ikwerre L.G.A of Rivers State.
“In their possession are three locally made revolver pistols, four live cartridges, and a substance suspected to be cocaine.
Investigation on top gear to recover more of their operational arms.”
He also reported how the police last Sunday night arrested one 30-year-old man while trying to rob one Sam Saturday in his house at Deeyor Kira Community in Tai LGA of the State. “One locally made gun was recovered from him, while the suspect and exhibit are in police custody. An investigation is ongoing to arrest other members of the gang.”
The next is the arrest of a notorious cultist and recovery of firearms, saying it took place on September 13, 2023, based on information received that he was about to sell an AK47 rifle.
He said a team of operatives from Anti-Cultism Unit (ACU) immediately moved to B-Dere Community in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State, where the suspected was arrested with one AK47 rifle, breech number 32096 without magazine.
The CP said curbing crime in the society is a collective job, and called on residents of the state to be open and supportive of security operatives in fighting crime and criminality.
