Barely 24 hours
after he told Vanguard that
he had served his country meritoriously and it was time to retire to serve his
family, Kwara State Police Commissioner, Mr Chinwike Asadu, was murdered by
assassins, Saturday night. His body was riddled with bullets 100 metres
from his home after seeing off his guest.
after he told Vanguard that
he had served his country meritoriously and it was time to retire to serve his
family, Kwara State Police Commissioner, Mr Chinwike Asadu, was murdered by
assassins, Saturday night. His body was riddled with bullets 100 metres
from his home after seeing off his guest.
His police orderly, Aloha Olaniyi and driver, Oliver Omeh, who
were with him at the time of the incident, sustained bullet wounds and
are said to be in critical condition at the NationalOrthopaedicHospital, Enugu.
were with him at the time of the incident, sustained bullet wounds and
are said to be in critical condition at the NationalOrthopaedicHospital, Enugu.
The incident
occurred at Amorji Nike, near the densely populated Abakpa Nike area in
Enugu East Local Government Area within the state capital at about 10 p.m.
occurred at Amorji Nike, near the densely populated Abakpa Nike area in
Enugu East Local Government Area within the state capital at about 10 p.m.
The Police Commissioner, who reportedly visited his home in Enugu,
weekend, was driving into his private residence when the assailants, who might
have laid ambush for him, attacked.
weekend, was driving into his private residence when the assailants, who might
have laid ambush for him, attacked.
CP Asadu, according to sources, had a visitor whom he escorted
with his driver and a police orderly posted to guard his residence from Abakpa
Police Division, leaving behind the official escort team that came with him
from Kwara State Police Command.
with his driver and a police orderly posted to guard his residence from Abakpa
Police Division, leaving behind the official escort team that came with him
from Kwara State Police Command.
They were returning to the house after dropping the visitor when
they suddenly noticed a bus trailing them as they turned into his street. The
gunmen opened fire on them, killing the police commissioner instantly and
injuring two of his aides.
they suddenly noticed a bus trailing them as they turned into his street. The
gunmen opened fire on them, killing the police commissioner instantly and
injuring two of his aides.
Before the gunmen escaped, they reportedly took away the rifle of
the orderly whose body was riddled with bullets. The orderly was shot on the
chest, stomach, hands and leg while the driver was shot on both legs.
the orderly whose body was riddled with bullets. The orderly was shot on the
chest, stomach, hands and leg while the driver was shot on both legs.
Asadu was to retire next month
Asadu was to retire from the Police next month. In a telephone
chat with our Crime Editor, Mr Emma Nnadozie, on Friday, he excitedly spoke
about his retirement and how he would return to Enugu to rest after his
meritorious service to the country.
chat with our Crime Editor, Mr Emma Nnadozie, on Friday, he excitedly spoke
about his retirement and how he would return to Enugu to rest after his
meritorious service to the country.
He had said: “I’m looking forward to my retirement. I’ll be
out of the public glare for about one year before I come out
again. I’ll just be home resting. It will afford me time to be closer to my
family. I have served Nigeria and I need to serve my family now.”
out of the public glare for about one year before I come out
again. I’ll just be home resting. It will afford me time to be closer to my
family. I have served Nigeria and I need to serve my family now.”
Barely 24 hours after this, Asadu’s dream of serving his family
was killed by the assailants.
was killed by the assailants.
The CP was in Port Harcourt for the opening ceremony of the Police
Games and was said to have decided to “touch his home city, Enugu, on his way
back to Ilorin when the murderers struck.”
Games and was said to have decided to “touch his home city, Enugu, on his way
back to Ilorin when the murderers struck.”
According to a source, “the CP was driving into his personal
residence in Amorji Nike after dropping a visitor that night. He was with a
police orderly and his driver at the time of the incident. Just about 100
metres to his house they noticed that a bus was trailing them and before they
knew what was happening, the gunmen opened fire and killed the CP instantly.
residence in Amorji Nike after dropping a visitor that night. He was with a
police orderly and his driver at the time of the incident. Just about 100
metres to his house they noticed that a bus was trailing them and before they
knew what was happening, the gunmen opened fire and killed the CP instantly.
“The gunmen escaped in their bus before the CP’s escort team that
was inside his compound noticed what was happening. When the escort team and
sympathizers rushed to the scene, they met CP Asadu and his orderlies in a pool
of blood. They were rushed to the NationalOrthopaedicHospital where doctors
confirmed the CP dead. The other two policemen are now on admission at the hospital.”
was inside his compound noticed what was happening. When the escort team and
sympathizers rushed to the scene, they met CP Asadu and his orderlies in a pool
of blood. They were rushed to the NationalOrthopaedicHospital where doctors
confirmed the CP dead. The other two policemen are now on admission at the hospital.”
Killers have murdered sleep —IG
The Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar, in his
reaction, yesterday, declared that the killers of Asadu had murdered sleep.
reaction, yesterday, declared that the killers of Asadu had murdered sleep.
Force spokesman, CSP Frank Mba, in a statement on behalf of the
IGP said: “It is the belief of the IGP that those who murdered CP Asadu have
murdered sleep and they will find no rest. They will find no comfort and they
will find no hiding place until they are fished out and brought to justice.”
IGP said: “It is the belief of the IGP that those who murdered CP Asadu have
murdered sleep and they will find no rest. They will find no comfort and they
will find no hiding place until they are fished out and brought to justice.”
According to Mba, IGP Mohammed Abubakar “described the incident
leading to the death of Chinwike Asadu as most unfortunate and heart-rendering.
Particularly coming at a time when the Federal Government, through the security
agencies, has been doing everything possible to strengthen the security
of the country and improve the quality of protection for lives and property.”
leading to the death of Chinwike Asadu as most unfortunate and heart-rendering.
Particularly coming at a time when the Federal Government, through the security
agencies, has been doing everything possible to strengthen the security
of the country and improve the quality of protection for lives and property.”
Vanguard gathered that the Commissioners of
Police of Anambra, Imo, Ebonyi and Abia State Commands have also put their men
on alert for possible interception of the killers.
Police of Anambra, Imo, Ebonyi and Abia State Commands have also put their men
on alert for possible interception of the killers.
Police launch manhunt for
Assassins
Assassins
The State Police
Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, confirmed the incident when Vanguard contacted him, yesterday, describing
the attack as very unfortunate.
Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, confirmed the incident when Vanguard contacted him, yesterday, describing
the attack as very unfortunate.
According to him, the police would do everything possible to fish
out the assailants as investigations into the bizarre incident have already
commenced.
out the assailants as investigations into the bizarre incident have already
commenced.
The new Police Commissioner in EnuguState, Mr. Tonye Ebitibituwa,
was said to have directed his men to launch a manhunt for the gunmen within and
outside the state capital.
was said to have directed his men to launch a manhunt for the gunmen within and
outside the state capital.
Orderly, driver in stable
condition
condition
Meanwhile, doctors at the NationalOrthopeadicHospital, Enugu are
battling to save the two wounded police officers.The orderly who was seriously
battered by bullets, according to doctors, was said to be in a stable condition
after the surgeries conducted on him throughout Saturday night. The
driver was also said to be in a stable condition.
battling to save the two wounded police officers.The orderly who was seriously
battered by bullets, according to doctors, was said to be in a stable condition
after the surgeries conducted on him throughout Saturday night. The
driver was also said to be in a stable condition.
Meanwhile, the
incident rattled the command, yesterday, as Asadu’s deputy and other top
police officers sobbed profusely at the police officers mess, Ilorin when Vanguard visited.
incident rattled the command, yesterday, as Asadu’s deputy and other top
police officers sobbed profusely at the police officers mess, Ilorin when Vanguard visited.
The officers, both male and female, who all came in casual wears
at about 1 p.m wailed uncontrollably
at about 1 p.m wailed uncontrollably
There was no official statement by the command at press time as
the spokesman of the command, Olufemi Fabode, was said to be outside the state
on official assignment.
the spokesman of the command, Olufemi Fabode, was said to be outside the state
on official assignment.
It’s shocking, unfortunate — Gov Ahmed
In his reaction, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of KwaraState,
described the death of the Police Commissioner as shocking and unfortunate.
described the death of the Police Commissioner as shocking and unfortunate.
Governor Ahmed, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary,
Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba, said: “Late CP Chinwe Asadu, in the discharge of his
duty in KwaraState, contributed immensely to the sustenance of peace in the
state and in the upholding of our values as a state of harmony.”
Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba, said: “Late CP Chinwe Asadu, in the discharge of his
duty in KwaraState, contributed immensely to the sustenance of peace in the
state and in the upholding of our values as a state of harmony.”
Ahmed also noted that it was particularly painful that late CP
Asadu had become another index in the annals of the growing national
insecurity, adding that it had become very expedient for us as a nation to
rally round in finding enduring solution to the national malaise.
Asadu had become another index in the annals of the growing national
insecurity, adding that it had become very expedient for us as a nation to
rally round in finding enduring solution to the national malaise.
His last media assignment
The last media assignment of the slain Police Commissioner was
on February 21,2013 when he paraded six highway robbery suspects who had
been terrorising the state capital and its environs.
on February 21,2013 when he paraded six highway robbery suspects who had
been terrorising the state capital and its environs.
Three of the suspects found to be experts in highway robbery
were also said to have specialised in stealing commercial motorcycles from
their owners using ground pepper and other corrosive substances.
were also said to have specialised in stealing commercial motorcycles from
their owners using ground pepper and other corrosive substances.
According to him,”three of the robbery suspects specialised in
motorcycle theft. They steal motorcycles in KwaraState and sell them in
neighbouring states.
motorcycle theft. They steal motorcycles in KwaraState and sell them in
neighbouring states.
“The hoodlums always pretend to be innocent passengers to hire the
motorcycle and put pepper or other corrosive substances into the eyes of the
riders and take the motorcycles away from them. But luck has run against them.”
motorcycle and put pepper or other corrosive substances into the eyes of the
riders and take the motorcycles away from them. But luck has run against them.”
Source: Vanguard
