Armed men suspected to be cultists have killed a Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Bako Amgbanshin, in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The incident occurred on Friday night while the DPO and his men were on an operation to raid some criminal hideouts in the area.
The assailants ambushed the police team and opened fire on them. In the ensuing gun battle, the DPO was killed.
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A viral video of the incident showed the gunmen chanting victory songs while the DPO’s severed remains littered the floor.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Rivers State, Grace Iringe Koko, confirmed the incident but said she was not yet able to give details.
The report is true,” she said in a statement. “We are still investigating the matter and will give more details later.”
The killing of the DPO has sparked outrage in the state. The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has condemned the attack and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice.
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This is a dastardly act of wickedness and must not go unpunished,” Wike said in a statement. I have directed the security agencies to fish out the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
DPO Killed, Body Dismembered
The killing of the DPO is the latest in a series of attacks on security personnel in Rivers State. In recent months, there have been several attacks on police stations and checkpoints in the state.
The attacks have been blamed on cultists and other criminal gangs. The state government has imposed a curfew in some parts of the state in an effort to curb the violence.
The killing of the DPO is a major setback for the fight against crime in Rivers State. It is also a reminder of the dangers that police officers face in the line of duty
