Kwara State Police Commissioner Chinweike Asadu was shot
dead on Saturday in his home state Enugu.
His
orderly, Aloha Olaniyi, and driver, Oliver Omeh, were injured.
Both
of them are lying critically at the National Orthopeadic Hospital in Enugu.
Asadu,
who was transferred to Kwara last year had only about 50 days left to retire.
Enugu
police spokesman Ebere Amaraizu said Asadu was gunned down as he was about to
enter his Enugu home in Abakpa Nike around 9.45 p.m. on Saturday.
Amaraizu
said the officer was rushed to the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu, where
he was confirmed dead.
He
was driving in when the assailants, who seemed to have laid ambush for him
struck, about 100 metres from his house.
The
late Asadu, according to sources, saw off a visitor, his lawyer-friend, and was
returning home when he was attacked.
He
left behind the official escort team that came with him from Kwara Police
Command.
As
the late CP was returning home, he suddenly noticed a bus trailing his car, as
they branched into his street. The gunmen opened fire at the vehicle from the
rear.
The
gunmen were said to have shot sporadically killing the CP and injuring the two
policemen. The yet unknown gunmen reportedly took away the orderly’s rifle. The
orderly’s body was riddled with bullets.
He
was shot in the chest, stomach, hands and leg. The driver was shot in his legs.
Inspector
General of Police Mohammed Abubakar has given the marching orders to Enugu
State Commissioner of Police, Tonye Ebitibituwa to find Asadu’s killers in
record time.
Police
spokesman Frank Mba told our correspondent on telephone yesterday said the IGP
described Asadu’s killing as a most unfortunate incident.
Mba
quoted Abubakar as describing the death as painful, particularly at a time the
Federal Government and the security agencies are working very hard to improve
the security situation in the country.
Mba
said: “While sending his condolences to the family of the slain Asadu, the IGP
has vowed to bring the killers to book promptly.
“He
has already directed the Commissioner of Police in Enugu State to commence
investigation into the killing with the view to apprehending the persons behind
the dastardly act.
“The
IGP has also directed a special squad unit under him and the Special Anti
Robbery Squad (SARS) to join in the search for the killers to ensure that the
murder is resolved and the perpetrators brought to justice.
“According
to the IGP, those who murdered Asadu will have no peace until they face the
wrath of the law”.
Enugu
Police spokesman Amaraizu described the attack as “very unfortunate”. He said
the CP was on a private visit to his home in Enugu when the incident occurred.
A
police source in Enugu said: “The CP was driving into his personal residence in
Amorji Nike after dropping a visitor. He was with a police orderly and his
driver. Just about 100 metres from his house, they noticed that a bus was
trailing them behind and before they could know what was happening, the gunmen
opened fire and killed the CP instantly. His orderly and driver were also shot
and they were seriously wounded.
“The
gunmen ran away in their bus before the CP’s escort team that was inside his
compound noticed what was happening. When the escort team and sympathisers
rushed to the scene, they met CP Asadu and his orderlies critically injured.
They were rushed to the National Orthopaedic Hospital where doctors confirmed
the CP dead. The other two policemen are on admission at the hospital. “
Amaraizu
said the police would do everything possible to fish out the assailants as
investigations into the bizarre incident have already commenced.
Enugu
State police Commissioner Tonye Ebitibituwa was said to have directed his men
to launch a manhunt for the gunmen.
Asadu
hailed from Onuiyi Nsukka and his family compound is directly behind Onuiyi
Haven, the residence of Nigeria’s First Republic President, the late Dr. Nnamdi
Azikiwe.
Residents
of Onuiyi Nsukka have been in a mourning mood since the news of his death was
broken.
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