By Alex Ababio
KUMASI, GHANA • July 23, 2025
Unidentified gunmen assassinated Abdul-Malik Azenbe, the Kusasi Chief of Ashanti Region and Chief of Kadi Divisional Area in Binduri, in a brazen attack Tuesday night. The 45-year-old leader, enskinned just three months ago as Kadi Naaba, was gunned down outside his residence near the Asawase F-line Community Centre at approximately 8:40 p.m. .
Attack Details
Eyewitnesses described two assailants arriving on a motorbike, with the pillion rider wielding an AK-47 rifle. Without warning, the gunman unleashed multiple rounds at Azenbe before escaping into the night. “They shot him countless times until he fell, then vanished like ghosts,” a shaken neighbor told reporters .
Despite being rushed to Manhyia District Hospital and later transferred to Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Azenbe was pronounced dead on arrival. Medical sources confirmed he sustained catastrophic injuries from high-velocity rounds .
Security Response
Ashanti Regional Police Commander DCOP Emmanuel Teye-Cudjoe visited the bereaved family hours after the murder, pledging a full-scale manhunt. “This was a calculated act of violence. We will track down these perpetrators,” he declared, citing intensified patrols and forensic analysis of the crime scene
Top regional security commanders convened an emergency meeting Wednesday, deploying additional forces to Asawase. Police urged witnesses to come forward, particularly regarding the motorbike (make unreported) used in the attack .
Community and Political Fallout
The assassination has ignited grief and fury across Asawase and Binduri, where Azenbe was revered for bridging ethnic divisions. “He championed unity for Kusasis in Ashanti. Killing him kills peace,” lamented Alhaji Musah, a local elder .
The murder also casts a shadow over Ghana’s troubled chieftaincy conflict landscape. While police have not confirmed motives, tensions linger between Kusasi and Mamprusi factions in northern regions. Just weeks ago, social media erupted over a military officer’s killing in Bawku, with users accusing Kusasi groups of targeting security forces .
Ongoing Investigation
Authorities are exploring multiple angles:
– Chieftaincy Disputes: Azenbe’s recent ascension may have provoked rivals .
– Regional Spillover : Potential connections to Upper East ethnic violence .
– Criminal Vendetta: The chief’s anti-drug advocacy had drawn threats, though unconfirmed by police .
As forensic teams scour ballistic evidence, DCOP Teye-Cudjoe emphasized: “No stone will be left unturned. We urge calm while justice takes its course” .
This is a developing story. Follow for updates.