Court Sentences Four to Death Over Brutal Murder of Rivers DPO

A High Court in Rivers State has sentenced four people to death for their roles in the killing of a senior police officer in the state.

The judgment was delivered in Port Harcourt after months of trial linked to the gruesome incident that shook Ahoada East.

The court found the four defendants guilty in connection with the murder of SP Bako Angbashim, who was serving as Divisional Police Officer of Ahoada East at the time of his death. The killing occurred during a police operation in Odemude community in September 2023 and triggered widespread fear and outrage across the area.

During the trial, the prosecution presented evidence showing that the officer was attacked, killed, and his body mutilated during the operation.

The incident later led to a major security crackdown in the area, as authorities moved to dismantle the criminal network blamed for the attack.

In its ruling, the Rivers State High Court held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. The court upheld charges of murder, conspiracy, armed robbery, and membership of a secret cult group against the four convicts.

Those sentenced to death are Robinson Sonabari, identified as a native doctor accused of providing charms for the attack, Bright Okparawo, Precious Amaeze, and Loveday Jack. The judge ordered that they be executed by hanging.

Another defendant, Samuel Nwadinma, was sentenced to three years in prison for conspiracy, while one accused person was acquitted and discharged after the court found no sufficient evidence linking him to the crime.

The court also discharged five other defendants, ruling that they had already served the maximum sentence prescribed by law for cult-related offences.

Prosecuting lawyers welcomed the judgment, describing it as a strong statement against attacks on security personnel. They noted that police officers have increasingly become targets of violent criminal groups and said the ruling reinforces accountability.

A member of the victim’s family, Akasoo Amgbashim, described the verdict as a relief, saying it brought a measure of closure after months of pain. He praised the judiciary, the Rivers State Government, and the Nigeria Police Force for pursuing the case to its conclusion.

The four convicts were part of a larger group initially charged over the killing. At earlier stages of the trial, dozens of defendants were freed due to lack of evidence, leaving only a handful to face final judgment.