The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the death of a notorious cult leader, Gift Okpara, popularly known as 2 Baba, who is the prime suspect in the gruesome murder of a former Divisional Police Officer of Ahoada Division, Bako Angbashim, in September last year.
Angbashim was ambushed and captured in the Odiemudie community in Ahoada East Local Government Area of the state by the cult group, which dismembered his body and filmed it.
Since the cop’s murder, the police have been on the trail of the cultist, with regular land and air bombardment of the Iceland cult leader’s many hideouts, even though some of his lieutenants have already been killed.
However, Grace Iringe-Koko, a spokesman for the state police command, claimed in a statement released on Monday that intelligence sources suggested that the wanted cult leader was slain in a recent combined security raid in the Idu-Ekpeye community of Ahiada East LGA.
Irinke-Koko, a Superintendent of Police, also stated that a human skull, numerous guns, explosives, and various charms were discovered during the last raid in his new hideout, which resulted in his death.
The statement read, “On February 17, 2024, at around noon, 2BABA and his gang attacked Okogbe town and Odiokwu community in Ahoda West LGA, destroying pipelines.
“At 04:00 hours, operatives raided 2BABA’s new camp. Despite a fierce gun battle, 2BABA and his gang members escaped.
“However, at around 14:00 hours, intelligence confirmed 2BABA’s death after he lost consciousness and resuscitation attempts failed.
“Efforts are in progress to retrieve the body of the infamous killer, while investigations into the Icelandic cult’s activities in the region continue.
“The Rivers State Police Command remains resolute in its duty to protect the lives and property of the citizens, and it will continue to employ all necessary resources and strategies to ensure a safe and secure environment for all.”
According to the statement, items discovered from the camp included “an AK47 rifle, a G3 rifle, a scorpion rifle, a locally produced double barrel gun, and two pistols.
Others include one cut-to-size double barrel gun, one bulletproof vest, 13 pieces of explosives, and five rounds. 9mm live ammo, 10 Army camouflage, 11 different charms, one human skull, and one jackknife.”
Meanwhile, there has been rejoicing in the Ahoada axis of the state following the assassination of the cult leader, whom they claim was terrorizing villages in the area and demanding various sums of money from residents.
The renowned cultist denied any involvement in the crime in a voice message broadcast on a major radio station (92.3, Nigeria Info, Port Harcourt) in November 2023.
“I was surprised, and I want to tell people that I was not after the DPO and I’m not involved in his death. It is just that the incident happened on my community road. And the day the killing occurred, I spoke with him. I and the DPO discussed this.
“I was not even there when he was killed that day, and I was shocked when I heard about the incident,” he claimed.
