Rivers State Police Command Honors Slain DPO Bako Angbashim

In a solemn ceremony held on July 27, 2024, the Rivers State Police Command paid their final respects to the late Superintendent Bako Angbashim, who was brutally murdered by notorious cult gang leader Gift Okpara, also known as 2Baba. The ceremony took place at the Police Officers Mess in Port Harcourt, where the state Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, led the officers in paying tribute to the fallen hero.

SP Angbashim, who served the state police command with dedication, was instrumental in tackling crime and cultism in the state. He played a crucial role in the arrest of the notorious criminal, Boboski, who had terrorized motorists along the Akwa-Ibom section of the East-West Road. His efforts in Bori and its environs helped eliminate all forms of cultism when he was the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Bori.

The late officer was ambushed and murdered by 2Baba’s gang on September 8, 2023, in Odiemudie community, where his body was dismembered. The police launched a manhunt for the prime suspects and eventually caught up with 2Baba on February 17, 2024, during a joint operation between the police and the Air Force at Ebrass forest in the state. 2Baba was killed, and his decomposing body was recovered from a shallow grave days after the raid of his hideout.

After weeks of meticulous sample preparation and genetic matching, the police confirmed the identity of the recovered remains as those of SP Angbashim. The police command expressed their appreciation to the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalaiyi Fubara, for redeeming the ₦100 million bounty on 2Baba and for his commitment to ensuring justice for the slain officer.

The remains of SP Angbashim were handed over to his family, who expressed their gratitude to the state police command for their efforts in avenging his death and retrieving his remains. The late officer’s elder brother, Dogo Angbashim, thanked the state Governor for his commitment and announced that the remains would be laid to rest in their community in Nasarawa state.

The Rivers State Police Command’s final tribute to SP Bako Angbashim was a fitting farewell to a dedicated officer who gave his life in the line of duty. The state police command, under the leadership of CP Olatunji Disu, remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of the state’s residents and bringing criminals to justice.