In a significant development, a Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has remanded 75 individuals to the Correctional Centre on charges of conspiracy in the murder of the District Police Officer of Ahoada Police Division, SP Bako Angbashim.
The suspects, facing trial for conspiracy to murder and sponsorship of cultism, were implicated in the killing and decapitation of SP Angbashim by cult groups operating in Ahoada East Local Government Area.
Among those remanded are Cassidy Ikegbidi, a former Chairman of Ahoada East LGA, Eze Ekpeye Logbo, His Royal Majesty Eze Ngozi Angwo, and over 73 others. The charges, detailed in charge sheet number PHC/3208/CR/2023, were brought against them by the Commissioner of Police. The defendants did not enter a plea, and a bail application was opposed by the prosecuting counsel, Superintendent of Police Eniyepere Sikpi.
Justice Sika Apirioku, the trial Judge, after hearing arguments from both sides, ordered the defendants to be remanded in Port Harcourt Correctional Centre. The case was adjourned until November 21 for plea and bail consideration.
Meanwhile, Ekpeye Youths Worldwide and the National Union of Ekpeye Students have jointly called for an end to the perceived politicization of the killings in their area. They condemned what they described as attempts to link the crisis to political motives, specifically targeting Hon. Edison Ehie, the State House of Assembly representative for Ahoada East Constituency II.
Ekpeye Youth Worldwide’s Secretary General, Adokiye Oyagiri, asserted that false allegations and claims were being made without substantiation. He pointed out that the Governor had placed a bounty of N100 million on the killers of the DPO, and there was yet to be confirmation from the police regarding their capture. Oyagiri suggested a connection between the motives of the group and the ongoing political crisis in the state, emphasizing the need to address institutional responsibility for security.
President General of the National Union of Ekpeye Students, King Ngozi, also disapproved of statements by the Conference of Concerned Ekpeye for Peace and Development, which alleged that Edison Ehie had not taken action on the killings due to political reasons. Ngozi clarified that Ehie, representing constituency II, had undertaken measures to address the crisis in an area not under his jurisdiction (constituency I) and praised his leadership direction.
