The Rivers State Police Command has pledged to pursue and prosecute the gunmen responsible for the ambush and killing of one of its Divisional Police Officers (DPO), SP Bako Angbanshin, in Odumude community, Ahoada East Local Government Area of the state on Friday night.
According to the police, SP Angbanshin had led a team of officers on a raid of criminal hideouts in the area, and while returning, they were ambushed by suspected cultists.
Commissioner of Police Emeka Nwonyi, in a statement issued by the Command’s spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, stated that during the attack, Angbanshin’s team ran out of ammunition, and the DPO sustained fatal injuries. The assailants captured him and subsequently led to his death.
The statement explained that the police sought assistance from the Nigerian Army, but the operation to recover the DPO’s body and apprehend the culprits was impeded by the extremely dark conditions within the dense bush.
CP Nwonyi expressed condolences to SP Bako Angbashim’s family and those affected by the tragic incident. He also vowed to ensure that the perpetrators of this act face justice.
The incident is a reminder of the challenges that law enforcement officers face in their efforts to combat crime and maintain public safety in some regions.