Slain DPO: Rivers Police Arrest Six Suspects

• Kazeem Badmus

Police in Rivers State said it has arrested six suspects in connection with the gruesome murder of the Divisional Police Officer of Ahoada, Superintendent of Police Bako Angbashim, by suspected cultists on Friday.

OSUN DEFENDER reports that Angbashim was murdered after a gun duel with the suspected cultists led by one David Okpara a.k.a 2-Baba with the state Government placing a N100m bounty on whoever has information about his killer.

It was gathered that Odumude Community in Ahoada East LGA, where SP Angbashim was captured by the suspected cultists and his body decapitated had been deserted following a raid by the police on Saturday.

In a statement on Sunday, the spokesperson for the command, Grace Iringe-Koko, while confirming the raid, said the arrest followed an operation in the community led by the Commissioner of Police, Emeka Nwonyi.

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Iringe-Koko explained that the operation which comprised the CP’s management team and tactical units was to recover the mutilated remains of the slain DPO.

She said residents of the community were ‘evacuated as a result of the operation, adding that a locally crafted pistol and various charms were recovered during the raid.

The statement reads, “The Commissioner of Police for Rivers State, CP Nwonyi Emeka Polycarp, along with his management team and tactical units, conducted an operation on Saturday, September 9, 2023, at approximately 0600hrs in Odumude Community, Ahaoda East LGA, Rivers State with the objective to recover the deceased DPO’s body and conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the community.

“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.

“Furthermore, a new DPO, SP Zuokumor Richard, has been assigned to the division. He is accompanied by half a unit of men from Mopol 48, a one-third unit from Mopol 19, 56, and tactical teams.

“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 is ongoing.”