The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Emeka Nwonyi, on Monday revealed that the slain Divisional Police Officer of Ahoada, Bako Angbashim, played into the hands of his killers.
Recall that the DPO was killed by a gang in Ahoada-East Local Government Area last Friday.
A video of the killing showed the slain DPO in a pool of his own blood, as the cultists mocked him for claiming he was invincible.
They later dismembered his body parts, making video of the dastardly act, which trended on various social media platforms.
Over the weekend, a one hundred million naira bounty was placed on Gift Okpolowu also known as 2-baba and his gang, suspected to have masterminded the killing of the Ahoada DPO.
The River state government announced the bounty in a statement signed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The government also announced the indefinite suspension of the Eze Igbu Akoh II of Akoh Kingdom, Eze Cassidy Ikegbidi for alleged acts of complicity in ceding control of his territory to the suspects, David Gift and his gang to freely operate.
Speaking on Monday, during a solidarity protest at the command headquarters in Port Harcourt led by a Human Rights advocate, Charles Jaja, CP Emeka revealed that the hoodlums told late SP Angbashim that they were ready to embrace amnesty.
According to him, the DPO played to the gallery by taking the hoodlums’ words for it and going on the mission.
“What pains me most was the idea of him believing, like he always said, that these people said they were ready to surrender their guns and come out for amnesty. And he played to the gallery.
“Only to know in death, that these people were rather crafty in their operations and luring him for an onslaught,” the CP lamented.
The CP revealed that six suspects have been arrested over the killing of the DPO, and locally crafted pistols and various charms seized from the suspects.
He said the suspects and the confiscated items are currently under police custody and are undergoing interrogation at the State CID, Port Harcourt.
He further revealed that in the meantime, a new DPO, SP Zuokumor Richard, has been assigned to the division, accompanied by half a unit of men from MOPOl 48, a one-third unit from Mopol 19, 56, and tactical teams.
CP Emeka assured that the police is committed to ensuring that justice is done in the killing of SP Bako Angbashim by fishing out the perpetrators of the dastardly act and making them to face the full wrath of the law.
He urged the public to take advantage of the one hundred million naira bounty placed on the gang and provide information that could lead to their arrest.
“I want to commend the State Governor Fubara for awarding the bounty on the gang. This is a good step and will help ensure that the criminals are fished out.
“I therefore call on people of the state not to allow this heinous crime go unabated but to report the people behind it. The danger in covering up for these criminals is that tomorrow, it might get to you,” CP Emeka advised.
Earlier, Human Rights advocate Charles Jaja, who led the solidarity protest, urged the police to ensure that justice is served for SP Bako Angbashim.
According to him, the issue of cultism and cult killings have festered for so long in the state because many politicians and community leaders are sponsors of their operations.
“Whether we like it or not, there are politicians who sponsor these killings. There are also traditional leaders who provide cover for them.
“The police must therefore extend their nets to these people, otherwise, these killings will continue,” he said.
