By 
By Abiodun OBA
Gift David Okpara, alias 2 Baba, notorious cult kingpin declared wanted by the Rivers government and the Police for killing and dismembering Ahoada Divisional Police Officer of the state, DPO, SP Bako Angbashim, said he had no hand in any harm to the late DPO.
Speaking through a voice note he released exclusively to a Port Harcourt-based radio station, Nigeria info FM, 2baba, revealed that he spoke to the late DPO hours before his death, claiming to be a freedom fighter who took up arms because rival cult groups killed his biological brother and burnt their house.
“I want to inform the Rivers State government that I bear no responsibility for the death of the DPO,” he said.
“I have chosen to remain silent about this matter until now, but I am addressing it today in response to the concerns raised by the public.
“I am surprised and have decided to let my people know that I was not involved in any harm to the DPO.
“Coincidentally, the incident occurred on a road within my community, and on the day it happened, I had a discussion with the late DPO. I wasn’t even present when the incident occurred; I was just shocked when I heard about it.”
2baba also claimed in the voice that he is a freedom fighter who picked up arms alongside members of his gang after cultists in the state were granted amnesty by the last administration because rival cult groups refused to surrender their arms and were killing members of his own gang.
In his claims: “We turned in all the rifles we had to the government, while our opposition refused to surrender theirs.
“Eventually, I realized that the government took no action against the opposition groups, and I began to regret our decision to surrender our weapons.
“This created an opportunity for them to attack and kill our members. They killed my biological brother and burnt down our house.
“This was my annoyance, so I decided to go back to carrying arms.’’
The suspect, who now claims to be a freedom fighter for Ekpeye youth, denied accusations of kidnapping, illegal bunkering, and other crimes levelled against him.
“The gun play, I went for, was not to intimidate or harm anyone. Everyone knows I am not into kidnapping and illegal oil refining business.
“I am not involved in criminal activities. I am into business. I am just concentrating on my dredging business, and everyone is aware that I am into dredging,” he said.
On the allegations that he is being sponsored by highly connected and influential political leaders, the wanted kingpin claims he is self-sponsored and not bankrolled by any traditional ruler, as claimed.
The first note is the first time the Iceland Cult kingpin will speak since he was declared wanted over the killing of SP Angbashim on September 8 with over N100 million bounty on his head,
Recall, Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, declared 2Baba and his gang wanted and placed a N100 million bounty on their head, while the Rivers State Police Command added N1 million to it.
In a swift reaction, the Public Relations Officer of Igbu-Akor Youths Congress in Ahoad-East, Hector Chinem, dismissed the denials by 2Baba that he was not involved in the murder of 2Baba.
Chinem described the claim as well-scripted lies, while insisting that the cult kingpin and his gang killed the late DPO.
He added that the 2Baba sudden emergence from his hiding to exonerate himself from the dastardly act and claiming self-sponsorship in his criminal adventures is to obstruct justice from those being prosecuted.
Over 70 suspects, including, three traditional rulers, have been arrested and are being prosecuted over the murder of SP Angbashim.
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