The Police Command in Rivers State had arrested three suspected cultists in connection with the murder of former Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ahoada Division, Bako Angbashim, in the state.
Angbashim was captured and beheaded by a suspected cultist in September 2023, prompting a statewide manhunt for the perpetrators.
The spokesperson of the Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, who disclosed this on Tuesday in Port Harcourt said one of the apprehended one of the murder suspects is known simply as K1.
“K1 is identified as a member of the Iceland cult group formerly led by the late 2Baba, which has been linked to the killing of the late Angbashim,” she said.
Iringe-Koko said K1 revealed the identities of other accomplices, leading to the arrest of two additional suspects who are LoveGod Goodluck of Ikata Community, Ahoada East area, and Precious Olumini, who previously escaped from custody.
She said the operatives recovered a locally made single-barrel gun and two cartridges from Goodluck, while an English-made pump-action rifle and a locally made pistol were seized from Olumini.
“During interrogation, the suspects confessed to being members of the Iceland cult group, which has been responsible for a series of violent crimes in the Ahoada-East axis of the state,” Iringe-Koko added.
She confirmed that the investigation was ongoing and assured that the suspects would be charged to court upon conclusion.
She said police were intensifying the manhunt for the other fleeing members of the syndicate, with the goal of recovering additional weapons and ensuring they were brought to justice.
According to Iringe-Koko, the arrests represent a significant breakthrough in the command’s ongoing efforts to combat cultism and violent crimes across the state.
