Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has declared one Gift David Okpara Okpolowu, also known as 2-Baba, and all members of his criminal gang wanted over the murder of a Divisional Police Officer, Bako Angbashim, in Odiemudie community, Ahoada East Local Government Area of the state.
Also, Fubara announced a N100m bounty on 2-Baba, saying anyone who could give useful information that would lead to his arrest and prosecution would be rewarded.
Similarly, the governor slammed an indefinite suspension on a monarch, Eze Cassidy Ikegbidi, for complicity in the murder.
Fubara made this known in a statement he signed and issued on Saturday.
had reported that a viral video surfaced on Friday night showing the moment the gunmen displayed the DPO’s mutilated body.
The state Commissioner of Police, Emeka Nwonyi, explained that while the miscreants attacked the operatives, Angbanshin’s men retreated after running out of ammunition.
The DPO was said to have sustained fatal injuries and was captured by the gunmen, who took him away.
The state governor said the monarch ceded control of his territory to the notorious David Gift and his gang to freely operate and carry out their criminal activities.
The statement read, “Yesterday, September 8, 2023, at about 7pm, I was briefed on the security operations around 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.
“SP 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 (aka 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 thrive in any part of our state.
“Accordingly, upon the review of the entire incident and the security situation in the affected area 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 (aka 2-Baba) and all members of his criminal gang are hereby declared wanted.
“Secondly, a bounty of N100,000,000 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.”
Meanwhile, the acting Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, has condemned the murder of the police officer and ordered the arrest and prosecution of the suspects.
Describing the killing of the DPO as “heinous and barbaric,” Egbetokun noted that such an act was not only an affront to Nigeria’s national status but also a reflection of a lack of patriotism and gross illegality.
