Gift Okpara, popularly known as General 2-Baba, the prime suspect in the murder case involving Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Bako Angbashin of Ahoada East Local Government Area in Rivers State, has broken his silence from his undisclosed location. In a voice note aired on a prominent radio station (92.3 Nigeria Info, Port Harcourt) on Monday morning, Okpara vehemently denied any involvement in the crime, presenting his side of the story.
The notorious cultist, also leader of the Iceland cult gang, affirmed that he spoke with the late DPO just hours before the tragic incident and shed light on his gang’s decision to return to criminal activities after a period of amnesty. Okpara clarified that he was not present at the location where the DPO was killed, expressing shock upon learning about the incident.
“I want to tell the Rivers State Government that I am not involved in anything concerning the death of DPO. I didn’t want to say anything all this while. But I decided to speak out because of the way people were talking about it,” Okpara stated.
According to him, his group had initially submitted all their weapons during an amnesty period, but a rival gang failed to comply, leading to the killing of his members, including his younger brother. Frustrated by the lack of government action against the rival gang, Okpara claimed his gang regretted surrendering their weapons and felt compelled to return to criminal activities.
The suspect, now portraying himself as a freedom fighter for Ekpeye youths, categorically denied involvement in various criminal activities such as kidnapping and illegal bunkering. He insisted that he focused on his dredging business and refuted claims of being sponsored by a traditional ruler.
General 2-Baba was declared wanted by the police after the murder of SP Angbashin on September 8, 2023, in Odiemude community in Ahoada East LGA of the state. Despite numerous police raids in the Ahoada area, Okpara has remained elusive, and efforts to recover the decapitated body of the late SP Angbashin have so far been unsuccessful. Over 50 individuals, including a monarch and a former LG Chairman, are standing trial in connection with the officer’s death.