‘Wanted killer of Rivers DPO, 2 Baba, gang members still on rampage’

By Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

Youth in the Ahoada East local government area of Rivers State are pleading with the police and other security agencies to expedite actions on the wanted cult kingpin Gift David Okpara alias 2 Baba because he and members of his gang are still on a rampage in their communities.

According to the youths, residents of the communities are still living in fear as members of the 2 Baba-led gang continue to rob people in the area.

2 Baba and members of his gang were declared wanted about a month ago over the alleged killing of the Divisional Police Officer of Ahoada-East Local Government Area of the state, SP Bako Angbashim,

The Coordinator of Concerned Ekpeye Youths, Samuel Ugwu, told journalists that 2Baba and his members are still in the community carrying out their nefarious activities unchallenged despite being declared wanted by the police.

He told journalists that a few days ago, suspected members of 2Baba’s gang raided shops along Odiemerenyi road in the council area during which they robbed many people at gunpoint.

“Members of 2baba’s gang are still moving around in the community robbing people. They have extended their camps to other areas in the community. People are restless. Some days ago, (I don’t know whether they are 2 Baba, but a lot of Commanders who are working and reporting to 2 Baba. They raided the shops and stole ng valuables without checks. All communities in Ekpeye have Commanders who report to 2 Baba”.

He expressed frustration that the security agencies have not done enough to arrest the gang members despite the 100 million naira bounty placed on him by Governor Siminalayi Fubara and another N1m by the Rivers State Police Command.

“Information given to the Police is not put into action to arrest the culprits. They should expedite action and bring the culprits to book. I wouldn’t know why the Governor will declare someone wanted with a bounty and it is taking months to arrest him.”

Speaking in the same vein, the Public Relations Officer of Igbu Akoh Youth Congress, Ekeakita Hector Chinem, corroborated the report that there were raids on shops in the area recently by suspected gang members. He, however, said the rampant cases of kidnappings and criminal activities have reduced in the area since the increased tempo of activities of security agencies in the area.

“They have been hiding in the bush, but coming out at night to collect things from shops at gunpoint. They break into stores and forcefully collect items without paying and run back into the bush”.

“The area has been a little bit of calm. It has not been as bad as it was before when there were rampant cases of kidnappings and robberies as it was before”.

He said the hoodlums are still within their territory and they are not far off.

He, however, asked other security agencies to synergize with the police to arrest Obama and members of his gun so that people in the area would have their peace.

It would be recalled that the Commissioner of Police, CP Nwonyi Polycarp Emeka had assured that the Command was closing in on the wanted cult kingpin as some of his key members had been arrested.

Our Correspondent reports that recently, the kingpin’s alleged Charmer and juju priest were arrested by operatives of the Command in a Community in Ahoad-East.