ASP killed tricycle rider like a common animal’

As the hunt for the unknown Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), who shot and killed a tricycle rider with his service pistol at the Akowonjo Egbeda on Tuesday night continues, the rider’s angry colleagues have condemned the action of the policeman, saying he killed the rider like a common animal.

This was even as the elder brother of the murdered rider, Mr. Kolawole Saidi, begged police authorities to fish out his younger’s brothers’ killer.

Tricycle and commercial bike riders at the Egbeda have continued to rage over the wasteful death of Aranse Akeem, 31, a father of one.

A motorbike rider, popularly called, Pastor, said: “The ASP shot and killed him like a common animal. He shot and killed him without any provocation. Perhaps the ASP was under a spell. Now that he has killed Akeem, let him come and take over the responsibilities of Akeem. How Akeem’s parents and wife feel when they hear about his death? It’s not easy to train a child to the age he would start taking care of you, only for you to hear that someone shot and killed him!”

It will be recalled that on Tuesday night, Akeem, was said to have been shot at close range by an angry policeman and he died immediately at the spot. The bullet which hit him on his left side chest was said to have come out from his back.

A tricycle rider, Mr. Basa Paul, who witnessed the murder of Akeem, said the incident occurred around 6pm at Karim Lakanu Street, Egbeda.

Paul said the policeman whipped out his service pistol from his waistband, shot Akeem, still armed with the gun, grabbed and held a commercial bike rider hostage. He ordered the motor rider to take him away from the scene.

Paul and other tricycle riders have taken two motorbike riders to Afonka Police Station after they realised that they knew the shooter. One of the motorbike riders said the trigger happy cop is an ASP. He also said that he knew the policeman’s family.

Akeem’s brother, Saidi said he was had just returned from the office when his phone rang. When he picked the call, he was told that a policeman had killed his brother. He said he was shocked and quickly rushed to the scene. He said that he saw Akeem’s corpse, covered in blood.

He said: “When I got there, he was already dead. He was shot on the chest. He died on the spot. His son is just three-year-old. Akeem is gentle, not troublesome by nature. He is very religious. I implore the police authorities to help us fish out his killer! Let the policeman tell us why he killed Akeem.”

The tricycle riders are however divided over the action police authorities are likely to take. While some said police will fish out the ASP based on the identification of one of the arrested motorbike riders, others said police will protect the identity of the ASP.