The Rivers State Police Command has announced the recovery of the skull of the late former Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ahoada Police Division, Bako Angbashim, who was allegedly murdered by a cult gang led by Gift Okpara, also known as 2Baba, in September 2023.
According to the spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, the recovery of the late DPO’s skull was made during a coordinated joint operation involving tactical squads from the Rivers State Police Command and personnel from the Force Intelligence Bureau. The operation targeted the camp of the deceased cult leader, 2Baba, located within the forest region of Odiemude Community in Ahoada East Local Government Area.
During the operation, a burial site within the gang’s shrine was discovered, where the remains of the slain police officer, SP Bako Angbashim, were located and subsequently exhumed. Notably, the exhumed remains include the skull of the deceased, which have been taken to the mortuary for scientific examination and genetic testing to establish their identity through comparison with samples obtained from the late officer’s relatives.
Efforts are underway to locate and retrieve the remaining dismembered parts of SP Bako Angbashim’s body, suspected to have been buried at various undisclosed locations within the forest.
2Baba, the leader of the gang responsible for this crime, was killed on February 17, 2024, during an assault executed by the Rivers State Police Command in Ebrass, Ahoada West LGA. The decomposing remains of the cult leader were later recovered from a shallow grave in the Ebrass forest.
The state Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, commended the dedication and commitment demonstrated by all the officers involved in the operation, and extended gratitude to the community members for their support throughout the investigation process. The police remain determined to apprehend the remaining members of the gang, prioritizing the safety and security of all citizens.