Rivers State Police Command says it has killed four members of the cult gang that gruesomely murdered SP Bako Amgbashim, Divisional Police Officer of Ahoada the state on September 8.
The command also said four suspects in relation to the crime have been arrested.
Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Emeka Nwonyi made the revelation while briefing newsmen on some of the achievements of the command.
He said the suspects were killed on September 10, two days after they murdered Amgbashim.
He said: “On 10th September 2023 at about 1030hrs, actionable intelligence revealed that, gang of notorious Iceland cultists, armed robbery suspects and kidnappers led by one Gift David Okpara Okpolonwo, aka 2-baba, who led his notorious gang to brutally murder SP Bako Angbashim, DPO Ahoada on 8th September 2023, were in their hideout at Odemudie Forest, Ahoada-East Local Government Area. Following the information, a combined team of Command Tactical Operatives and Area Commander Ahoada, stormed the forest in the efforts to arrest the notorious hoodlums and possible recovery of the corpse of the late officer.
“The hoodlums who were battle ready to inflict more injury and casualty on the police, immediately engaged the operatives in fierce gun battle, during which four of the notorious hoodlums, who are yet to be identified, sustained fatal gunshot injuries while others escaped into the forest. Three suspects were arrested and a locally made pistol recovered from them.
“Meanwhile, the four notorious suspected criminals who sustained serious injuries were rushed to the UPTH for medical attention but were confirmed dead by the doctor on duty. Operation still ongoing to arrest the notorious gang leader and other members of his gang”.
Nwonyi also listed other achievements by the command within the period to include arrest of armed robbery suspects, kidnappers, ritualists amongst others.
He said: “CP Strike Force attached to the Rivers State Police Command on 17/09/2023 at about 1600hrs acting on credible information, arrested two male suspects, namely Chibuke Iruaha ‘m’ 29yrs and Michael Ibe ‘m’ 28yrs in a black Toyota Camry with reg. no. Lagos MUS 73 DQ at Igwuruta in Ikwerre L.G.A of Rivers State.
In their possession were three locally made revolver pistols, four live cartridges, and a substance suspected to be cocaine. Investigation on top gear to recover more of their operational arms”.
Also, “Operatives of the command on Sunday, 17/09/2023 at about 0000hrs arrested one Thankgod Gbarane ‘M,’ age 30yrs while trying to rob one Sam Saturday ‘M,’ in his house at Deeyor Kira Community in Tai LGA of the State, one locally made gun was recovered from him, while the suspect and exhibit are in police custody. Investigation is ongoing to arrest other members of his gang.
“ On 13th September 2023 at about 1345hrs, based on information received that, a notorious cultist is about to sell an AK47 rifle, a team of Operatives from Anti-Cultism Unit (ACU), immediately moved to B-Dere Community in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State, where one Bariziga Kpone ‘M,’ was arrested with one AK47 rifle, breech number 32096 without magazine.
The suspect and exhibit are in police custody for discreet investigation.
The CP added: “Following credible intelligence, policemen attached to Abua/Odual Division arrested one Odumughan Supa ‘m,’ aka Last Market and Kevin George ‘m,’ aka Lecturer and Odeamuodi Isaac Isikima ‘m,’ aka Original ‘m,’ both of Obaranyi Community in Abua/Odual LGA of Rivers State, for the murder of one Progress Ezuo ‘m’ and harvesting of his male organs at the community.
The suspects who fled from the community were arrested and transferred to SCID for discrete investigation”.
