Six Police Officers have been interdicted for their involvement in a shooting incident in Lamashegu near Tamale in the Northern Region.
In a statement by the Police, it indicated that the six officers include: General Corporal Samson Kweku Darfour, General Corporal Prosper Mormesimu and General Constable Harrison Twum Danso.
The rest are General Constable Matthew Sah, General Constable Nuhu Muntari and Constable Doris Serwaa Bonsu.
According to the statement dated Monday, February 14, 2022, the police administration disclosed that it has dispatched a team of investigators led by the Deputy Director-General of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), DCOP Frederick Agyei to lead the investigation into the matter.
This followed the shooting incident in Lamashegu in Tamale in the Northern Region between the youth and some Police Officers on Sunday, February 13, 2022. One person has been confirmed dead in the clash with 4 others in critical conditions after sustaining various degrees of injuries during the riot.
According to reports, the clash started when a police patrol team attempted to stop an unregistered salon car, but the driver refused to stop. The young man who was being pursued by the police dashed into the Lamashe-Naa’s palace to avoid being apprehended by security personnel but the patrol team then pursued the car to the Lamashegu chief’s palace and allegedly fired into the car.
According to the youth, the act was disrespectful to the traditional authority, hence their agitation. Several shots were fired and a water cannon was used to disperse the youth.
However, the youth who dispersed regrouped at various vantage points while the police pitched camp with their water cannons and some armed men at the Lamashegu police station. Subsequently, a group of soldiers joined forces with the police to quell the situation.
Tamale Commander on shootings
According the Tamale Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent George Yeboah Afari, who gave an account of what happened, stated that it is unfortunate for such an incident to have happened.
“We are all aware of the visit of of the Vice President. Therefore I was out within Tolon District when communication was relayed that a Police man was under attack at the Lamashegu Naa’s Palace.”
George Yeboah Afari
Following that information, Commander Afari stated that he asked his driver to drive straight to the Lamashegu Naa Palace but upon his arrival, the crowd was too much and his arrival was accepted by the Chiefs and his Elders but not the youth around.
“I entered and the Chief said [my] man was nearly lynched but he has been brought inside so I should find a means to take him away.”
George Yeboah Afari
Commander Afari disclosed that he then called the patrol team and the FPU to come to the rescue to take the team to the Regional Police headquarters. Afterwards he indicated that they went to the Tamale Teaching Hospital to see the victim that was alleged to have been hit by the bullet.
“I went there and in fact, I saw a 24-year-old man who was on a sick bed. According to reports earlier, he had been hit with the bullet in the hip. I went there with an investigator , they took pictures of him and indeed and it was confirmed that he had been hit and doctors were on him and was also responding to treatment. There and then, I decided to come back and prepare for the other assignment which is to be with the Vice President’s convoy .”
George Yeboah Afari
Commander Afari narrated that the youth threatened that the whole police station was going to be razed down and as a result the Military and the Police had to be well-positioned.
According to him, the Policeman involved in the shooting is at the regional headquarters pending investigations and further interrogation.
“If I stand here and tell you that he did this or he did that I will be off track until proper investigations and proper interrogation takes place.”
George Yeboah Afari
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