The acting Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has condemned the gruesome murder of the Divisional Police Officer, Ahoada Division in Rivers State, SP Bako Angbashim.
PUNCH reports that SP Angbashim was shot dead during a mission to combat criminal activities in the Odumude area of Ahoada East Local Government Area in the state.
The state Commissioner for Police, Emeka Nwonyi, had explained in a statement issued by the Command’s spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, on Saturday morning, that while the miscreants attacked the operatives, Angbanshin’s men retreated after running out of ammunition.
The statement noted that Angbashim valiantly held his ground, where he “sustained fatal injuries”, while his men made a tactical retreat.
However, the IG, in a statement on Saturday by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, described the DPO’s murder as “utterly mindless” and “despicable”
He stressed that such attacks on any operative of the Force would not be tolerated, as he vowed to ensure the perpetrators of the murder were apprehended and prosecuted.
The statement reads, “The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, stands resolutely appalled by the cowardly and utterly mindless killing of SP Bako Angbashim, who was, at the time of his passing, the Divisional Police Officer, Ahoada Division in Rivers State.
“He noted that the despicable act is not only an attack on the Nigeria Police Force but also a blatant assault on the very fabric of law, order, and security within our nation, adding that SP Bako Angbashim was not just a police officer; but was a shield against chaos, and an embodiment of unwavering commitment to duty.
“The IGP while emphasising unequivocally that such nefarious acts against any operative of the Force will not be tolerated, assured that the relentless pursuit of justice begins immediately, and the culprits behind this heinous crime will be fiercely pursued, apprehended, and made to face the full fury of the law.
“The Inspector-General of Police extends his deepest condolences to the grieving family of SP Bako Angbashim, his dedicated colleagues, and every Nigerian who mourns the loss of a true hero in the Force’s quest for peace and security.”