By Cajetan Mmuta
Indications have emerged on how popular billionaire businessman and philanthropist Chief Philip Udalla was assassinated in Abatete in Idemili North local government area of Anambra state.
Aside from Chief Udalla who was the proprietor of Udalla Football Club and renowned petroleum products dealer, two out of the three policemen attached to him and Secretary of Anambra state Sports Independent Football League, AIFL, Mr. Godsent Eriobu were also killed.
Both Chief Udalla and others were burnt to ashes in their vehicles shortly after they were gruesomely shot at Eke Agu Market in the Abatete community by the suspected assassins.
A source close to the market roundabout said Chief Udala was waylaid near the Eke-Agu Abatete roundabout around 8:25 pm on Tuesday.
The suspected gang of assassins included two females and some male members.
According to the source who graves for anonymity, “The assassins on sighting Udalla’s convoy with his police escorts immediately set their own vehicle ablaze, and as their vehicle was in flame, opened fire on Chief Udalla’s convoy. Immediately, two of the three policemen escorting Chief Udalla died on the spot.”
“But the bullet of the assassins could not penetrate one of the policemen and Chief Udala. Meanwhile, the assassins’ bullet had also killed two other persons with Chief Udalla. The two persons were later identified to be Mr. Godsent Eriobu, secretary of the Anambra state Sports Independent League, and, Chief Udalla’s driver.
“When the assassins saw that bullet was not penetrating into Chief Udalla, one of the girls brought an ax and used it to hit him, thereafter they went and grabbed him, and, dragged him into his an SUV jeep with the other policeman and set the vehicle on fire.”
He stated that “We heard that the policeman escaped from the vehicle, but, that Chief Udalla was burnt in his car. The policeman is said to be receiving treatment in a hospital now”, the source stated further.”
In addition, “three vehicles including Chief Udalla’s SUV, his pilot vehicle and the one used by the assassins were burnt in the incident, as well as huge sum of money in Chief Udalla’s car,” the source said.
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Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of Anambra State Command, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga when contacted on Thursday said the command has embarked on thorough investigations into the matter with a view to unraveling circumstances surrounding the incident.
He explained that no arrest had been made but that the command was closing up on the perpetrators with discreet investigations to get to the root of the ugly incident.
He said the “The unfortunate incident occurred Tuesday night and details of what actually happened became clearer today (Wednesday).”
