Police operatives in Rivers State have arrested another two suspects linked to the killing of the Ahoada Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Superintendent Bako Angbashim in 2023.
The two suspects, identified as Lovegod Goodluck and Precious Olumini, said to be members of the notorious Gift Okpara (well known as 2Baba Iceland) cult group, were arrested in May and June, this year at their hideouts.
Daily Trust recalls that the now late DPO and his team were ambushed by the cult gang, led by 2Baba Iceland, on 18 September 2023, and gruesomely murdered.
Some suspects were arrested immediately after the incident.
In a statement on Tuesday, Police spokesperson in the state, Superintendent Grace Iringe-Koko said that the operatives acted on intelligence and arrested the two suspects, including one who had earlier escaped the arrest.
She said: ‘The Rivers State Police Command has made another significant breakthrough in its ongoing efforts to combat cultism and other violent crimes in the state.
‘Following credible intelligence, operatives of the Command attached to the Octopus Tactical Unit successfully arrested a cultists/murder suspect.
‘On 3 May 2025, operatives of the command received credible information regarding the whereabouts of a notorious cultist known as Aka ‘K1’, a member of the late 2Baba Iceland cult group. This group was linked to the murder of late SP Bako Angbashim, the then DPO of Ahoada Division.
‘The Police Operatives swiftly stormed the suspect’s camp in Ikata Community, Ahoada East Local Government Are, and arrested one Lovegod Goodluck, a male resident of Ikata Community. During the operation, one locally made single-barrel gun and two live cartridges were recovered from him.
‘In a follow-up operation on the 13 June 2025, at about 1730hrs, Operatives made another breakthrough, arresting one Precious Olumini, a male suspect who had earlier escaped. An English made pump-action gun and a locally made pistol were recovered from him.
‘During interrogation, suspects confessed to being members of the dreaded Iceland cult group that has been terrorising Ahoada-East axis of the state.
‘Suspects and exhibits are in Police custody, investigation is currently in progress with efforts being intensified to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate and recover their operational weapons.
‘The Commissioner of Police, Rivers State, CP Olugbenga A. Adepoju, psc, mnips, re- assures citizens that the Police Command remains resolute in its determination to ensure the safety and security of lives and property in the state, while urging citizens to cooperate with the Police in her efforts to rid our communities of these violent and criminal elements’, she said.
