He will later tell the driver: “I allowed you go because your wife is a good woman who had been begging for days.”
That one passed but I never knew worse tragedy was ahead.
THE DEADLY INTUITION
Ever since I came back from Awka, his number was not connecting and I am aware that there was a little demonstration, call it pandemonium around oil mill market junction on Thursday last week or there about.
There it was alleged a police man was gunned down by a bank Mopol, but tried as I could to call Cele from Friday till today ,his number was switched off.
I sent text message it wasn’t replied.
Nevertheless intuitively I can sense that something is wrong somewhere yet I cannot fathom from which divide.
I also noticed I couldn’t sleep from Friday till this morning , I am always restless and stays awake sometimes surfing the net till 6am
This Morning again, I tried his number to inform him I will be coming around his office to see him but still his number was switched off.
I asked myself: does that mean Cele went for a staff training course?
Then on a second thought I decided to call a Supol in their station and speak with Cele through him and that was when my fear was confirmed.
Corp Cele was gruesomely murdered howbeit mistakenly by another Police officer attached to a bank in oil-mill Port Harcourt!
HOW IT ALL HAPPENED
According the officer, Cele went for an arrest inside the banking premises
The Suspect works in the bank and when he was being taken out after proper identification, an argument ensued as the suspect tries to resist arrest insisting he will have to sign out.
I was told my officer friend Cele brought out a service pistol.
I was told he was on mufti and when one of the banks unarmed and mostly untrained security guards sighted Cele and the bank staff arguing, he went and alerted the bank armed security men (Mopol)that there is an armed robber whisking away a staff of the bank.
Meanwhile, the distance between the station and the bank is not up to 50 metres.
A mobile police inspector in charge was already trying to resolve the impasse being created by the banker while Cele was trying to explain his mission as an officer.
[I am yet to ascertain who went for the arrest with him.]
Then another overzealous Mopol attached to the bank without wasting time and from the back wasted a godly officer Cele.
So much so that the stray bullet from the shots at Close range went outside the bank premises and also killed a Mallam selling yam on a wheel barrow in oil mill market; triple tragedy!
Cele died in active service through the gun from a fellow officer who mistook him for an armed robber.
I wonder why the trigger happy Mopol was in such a haste to kill seeing that the banker knew Cele was a police officer from a nearby station.
Neither did the mentally unstable Mopol who pulled the trigger wait for his superior who is already on top of the matter to give a signal.
The yam seller also died from the bullet that was not aimed at him where he was busy doing his business… rest in peace mallam.
Rest in peace Cele my friend and brother, I won’t stop crying neither will my family.
To your wife I say take heart and may the Lord comfort you out of Zion.
I even heard you are carrying your first baby… God have mercy!
Na etiti ndu anyi no n’onwu (in the mist of earthly life we are still surrounded by death).
Only by our good works shall we be remembered.
Needless to call on the police or Authorities to investigate because na Naija we dey!
Let everyone one of us pause and think again for life on earth is too short!
Jee nke oma Evangelist Police Officer Celestine Anthony
Nzewi Nnanna
