The Rivers State Police Command says it has commenced an investigation into the gruesome murder of a Divisional Police Officer, SP Bako Angbashim, in the Ahoada East Local Government Area of the state.

The Public Relations Officer of the State Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, in a statement on Saturday said the Commissioner of Police, Nwonyi Emeka, is determined to bring the perpetrators of the heinous act to justice.

Cultists terrorising the Ahoada East and West LGAs in the state ambushed SP Angbashim on Friday night while returning from an operation.

He was dismembered after he was allegedly shot by his assailants.

The police revealed that a significant number of criminals opened fire on the officers and that, “in the face of the adversity, he valiantly held his ground, while his men, depleted of ammunition, made a tactical retreat.”

The statement said regrettably, during the engagement, SP Angbashim sustained fatal injuries, and one of his informants also sustained a gunshot injury and is currently receiving medical treatment.

Iringe-Koko, said the criminals seized the body of the DPO, forcing the remaining officers to return to their base for reinforcement, and that “efforts were made to rescue and recover his body, with assistance sought from the army teams stationed at FOB Base Etraco, but the operation proved challenging due to the extremely dark conditions within the dense bush.”

The state Police Command described SP Angbashim as an officer who “displayed exemplary courage during a mission to combat criminal activities in Ahoada.”

The command condoled with the family of the diseased and those affected by the distressing incident.

SP Angbashim was popular in the state for his doggedness in the fight against insecurity in the Ogoni area of the state, before he was deployed to Ahoada in 2023. He is known for going around barefoot.