The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Emeka Nwonyi, has reported that the state police command is getting closer to apprehending the primary suspect responsible for the abduction and murder of the late Divisional Police Officer of Ahoada East Local Government Area, Bako Angbashim, a little over two weeks ago.
Angbashim, a Superintendent of Police, was abducted by a suspected gang known as Iceland, led by Gift Okpara, in the Odiemudie community of Ahoada West LGA. The criminals decapitated his body, recorded the gruesome act, and took away his remains.
Since then, the police have been pursuing the fugitive gang leader, Gift Okpara, who has been on the run. Nevertheless, the command has confirmed the arrest of four individuals linked to the brutal murder of the DPO.
Speaking at an event in Port Harcourt, the state capital, Commissioner Nwonyi announced that the command had made significant strides in its investigation to capture Okpara, who he identified as the primary suspect. The CP also mentioned that some of the arrested suspects have provided valuable information that has aided in expanding their investigation.
He stated, “So much progress is being made. You need to understand that there is information you don’t share while investigations are going on.
“But we are very close to the main prime criminal. We are very, very close to him and we are going to catch up with him by the grace of God. We are putting up our strategies and he will fall into our net very soon.
“However, those other ones who are his foot soldiers, including those who participated actively in some of those crimes have also shown face.
“We are also going after some of them to see how to get them. So very soon we will also have a more relaxed mind that those bad boys are not in our environment.”
While commending the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, for his support to the security agencies to ensure the arrest and prosecution of the prime suspect, he urged residents of the state to support the ‘Operation Zero Crime’ fight recently launched in the state.
“You can see the passion the governor of the state has shown when he said the man that killed the gallant DPO that served under me here and the governor placed a bounty of N100 million on his head for anyone that can give information leading to his arrest.
” That shows how passionate he is to making us achieve our purpose. Rivers State is a very wealthy state. It has everything it takes to be vibrant, and what is the setback? – Security.
“And that setback is what I want to see whether we can weed and mop up. When that is done, it is going to be a boom in Rivers State, ” Nwonyi said.
