By: Felix Ikpotor
The Rivers State Police Command has given insight into how the corpse of Gift Okpara a.ka. General 2Baba, killer of former Ahoada East Divisional Police Officer, SP. Bako Amgbashim was discovered.
Commissioner of Police in the State, Olatunji Disu said the late cult kingpin’s body was discovered deep inside a forest at Ebrass in Ahoada West after he died from gunshot injuries sustained during a raid on his camp last weekend.
Recall that on the 19th of February, 2024, the Command in a statement by the Public Relations Officer, SP. Grace Iringe-Koko had said that 2Baba died after attempts to resuscitate him failed following a raid on his camp by a combine team of the Police and sister security agencies on February 17th, 2024.
The announcement by the Police elicited alot of reactions with many Rivers people demanding to see his corpse.
CP Disu while briefing newsmen after displaying the exhumed corpse said, “On Friday, February 23, 2024, based on credible information, our tactical operatives successfully located the shallow grave of Gift Okpara ‘M,’ also known as 2baba, a notorious Iceland cult leader in Ebrass, Ahoada West, Rivers State. We were able to recover the corpse of 2baba, who was responsible for the brutal murder of former DPO Ahoada Division, late SP. Bako Angbashim on September 8, 2023, in Odiemude community, Ahaoda East Local Government Area”.
He said officers of the Command gained entrance into 2Baba’s camp through the assistance of sister security agencies.
“To enter into 2Baba’s camp, we sought the assistance of our sister agency especially the Nigerian Air force, we did a lot of technical things and we gave the report to them and they were very happy about it and told us our information was actionable, they came and did their aerial strike and soften the ground for us to surge into the camp of 2Baba.
“Very early on the 17th of February, we entered the camp and had the first battle with them and they escaped with bullets injuries, so while they were escaping, along the way, they were destroying petroleum pipelines until they got to Ebrass in Ahoada West”.
CP Disu added: “After 2Baba died, his gang members went away with the body and they were moving from one part of Ahoada East to the other evading arrest, because we kept the place cordoned, they were not able to move out of that area, they had no choice than to take him further into the forest of Ebrass, dug a shallow grave and put him there. It took us time, walk and intelligence to be able to locate the place.
“So yesterday about 7:00pm, our officers finally had access to where the body was buried. They found the place, no grass on it, they identified it immediately, they poured drinks on it probably rituals they performed and they left army camouflage on the burial site, making it very easy for us to identify the site,” he said.
The police boss explained that going into the area to recover 2Baba’s corpse took his men over one hour and another one hour to come out of the forest.
He expressed gratitude to everyone who played a part in the operation, particularly the tactical teams, the Inspector Generals Response Team, IRT, special team and the Nigerian Airforce for their invaluable support.
Furthermore, the CP Disu appreciated the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, for his unwavering support throughout the operation.
He used the medium to emphasize the importance of citizens collaboration and support in the fight against crime, urging members of the public to continue to provide the Command with timely and accurate information that can aid in identifying and apprehending criminals.
CP Disu assured residents of the state that the Command remains committed to the safety and security of lives and properties, promising to continue their operations to apprehend other members of 2baba’s gang and dismantle any remaining criminal networks.
