Police authorities in Rivers State have apprehended an individual associated with the gruesome killing of Superintendent of Police, Bako Angbashim.
Angbashim, who was leading a police operation to dismantle criminal hideouts in the Odemude community, Ahoada West Local Government Area, fell victim to a deadly cult group led by Okpara on September 8. During the ambush, Angbashim was captured, and subjected to unspeakable brutality, and the assailants recorded the horrifying act.
In the wake of this tragedy, the Rivers State Police Command, under the leadership of Commissioner of Police Emeka Nwonyi, has been actively pursuing those responsible for the crime.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the arrest of one suspect in a statement released on Wednesday, noting that the suspect was on the brink of being lynched by an enraged mob before police intervention.
According to Iringe-Koko, “The Rivers State Police operatives on Monday, 25/09/2023 at about 19:43hrs acting on actionable information received that in Edoaha Community in Ahoada East, one of the suspects who brutally killed SP Bako Angbashim was about to be lynched to death by an angry mob,” she stated.
“Subsequently, a team of policemen swung into action to rescue the suspect who was about to be burnt with a tyre on his neck. He was rescued and brought to the station where he made a useful statement.
“He was later transferred to SCID for discreet investigation with a view to apprehend the fleeing kingpin, his gang members, and to recover their operational weapons.”
Subsequently, he was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for a thorough investigation aimed at apprehending the gang’s mastermind, his accomplices, and recovering their operational weaponry.”
While the identity of the arrested suspect remains undisclosed, it is believed that he is part of the gang responsible for the brutal killing of DPO SP Bako Angbashim earlier this month.
The murder of Angbashim elicited strong condemnation, prompting directives for an immediate investigation and the arrest of the perpetrators from the highest echelons of the police, the Federal Government, and the Rivers State Government.
Additionally, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara offered a substantial reward of one hundred million naira for any information leading to the apprehension of the gang’s ringleader.