Rivers State Governor Siminalaye Fubara has offered a N100 milion bounty for information leading to the arrest of the suspected murderers of Ahoada East Local Government Divisional Police Officer (DPO) SP Bako Angbashim.
Angbashim was killed on Friday after he and his team were ambushed by gunmen while returning from an operation. He was shot in the ensuing gunfire and captured by his captors, who later murdered him.
In a statement on Saturday, Fubara said that “credible intelligence from the security agencies traced the entire incident to one Gift David Okpara Okpolowu (a.k.a. 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.”
The governor said the state government “cannot fold our arms and allow criminals and crimes to rear their ugly heads and thrive in any part of our State.” He called on anyone with information about the whereabouts of 2-Baba and his gang to come forward and report it to the security agencies.
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Fubara also announced the indefinite suspension of Eze Cassidy Ikegbidi Eze Igbu Akoh II, the traditional ruler of Ahoada East Local Government Area, 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.”
The governor’s announcement showed the state government’s determination to crack down on crime in Rivers State. The bounty offer is a significant step, and it will likely put pressure on 2-Baba and his gang to surrender or face arrest.
The governor’s statement also reiterated the state government’s commitment to guaranteeing the security of all residents. Fubara said he would do everything he could to “hunt down Gift David and his gang and bring them to justice.”
The killing of SP Bako is a tragedy and a reminder of the challenges facing law enforcement in Nigeria. However, the governor’s announcement is a positive development and a sign that the state government is taking the crime issue seriously.
