The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the death of a notorious cult leader, Gift Okpara.
Okpara, also known as 2Baba, was the prime suspect in the murder of Bako Angbashim, the former Divisional Police Officer of Ahoada Division, in September 2023.
OsunDailyNG recalls that Angbashim, a Divisional Police Officer, was ambushed and captured in the Odiemudie community in Ahoada East Local Government Area of the state by the cult gang, who filmed themselves dismembering his body.
The spokesperson for the command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said in a statement that since the death of the cop, the command has been on 2Baba’s trail, with constant land and air bombardments in the various hideouts of the Iceland cult leader, even as some of his lieutenants were gunned down previously.
It said intelligence reports revealed that the wanted cult kingpin was killed in a recent joint security raid in the Idu-Ekpeye community, Ahiada East LGA, adding that a human skull, assorted rifles, explosives, and various charms, among others, were recovered during the last raid in his new hideout, which culminated in his death.
According to the statement: “On February 17, 2024, at around 2:00 hours, 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.”
The statement added that efforts are in progress to retrieve the body of the infamous killer, while investigations into the Iceland cult’s activities in the region continue.
The statement listed items recovered from the camp, including an AK-47 rifle, a G-3 rifle, a scorpion rifle, a locally made double-barrel gun, and two pistols.
Others are one cut-to-size double barrel gun, a bulletproof vest, 13 pieces of dynamites, five rounds of .9mm live ammunition, 10 army camouflages, 11 assorted charms, one human skull, and one jackknife.
