Chiefs and residents of Ejura have dismissed claims by the Ghana Police Service that some three persons arrested in connection with the alleged robbery in the town leading to the death of a police officer are robbers.
They say the arrested suspects are renowned large scale farmers in the community.
They have called on the Inspector General of Police to as a matter of urgency review the operations of the Investigations Department of the police since it is causing a lot of problems to the service.
It could be recalled that OnuaOnline reported of the death of a police officer, one General Sergeant Ahmed Kamal on Monday October 9, 2023, after he was allegedly shot by armed robbers on the Ashakokoo – Sarki Kura stretch of the Ejura road.
According to a press statement issued by the Ghana Police Service, they have arrested two suspects who were said to be preparing to embark on a robbery operation. They opened fire on police officers who were assigned to quell their planned robbery attack on a mobile money vendor at Ejura.
READ ALSO: Two armed robbers in custody for killing a police officer
The suspects, Alhaji Wahab Suleiman and Ibrahim Abubakar who also sustained gunshot wounds reported themselves to the police and were detained and subsequently arraigned before the Mampong District Court where they were remanded into police custody. One other suspect fled the scene upon sensing danger.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Ejura traditional area, Barima Osei Hwedie II, together with elders of the community have come to the defense the suspects, who, according to them, are well known large scale farmers and men of integrity in the community.
The chief said the two persons are political activists with the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and have been supporting the youth of the community in diverse ways.
He says he is surprised such persons could be classified by the police as armed robbers and believes they are only victims of circumstance.
Addressing a press conference at the scene of the shootout, the Assembly member of Sarki Kura electoral area, Adam Alhassan while dismissing the claims by police asked that the service reviews the operation standards of the PIDs.
Also, the Ejura Sekyeredumase New Patriotic Party constituency Chairman, Alhaji Abdul Rahman Austral, commiserating with family of the deceased officer said there are a lot of inaccuracies in the police report.
They added that Alhaji Wahab and his brothers are law abiding citizens, who are largely regarded as top three large scale farmers in the municipality with many dependents, and have been supporting the police on almost every market day to patrol the area on market days in his capacity as youth chief.
He indicated that the fully armed police officers who were in Ejura for the said operations were not in uniform and driving an unlicensed saloon car. He said they laid ambush in the dark stretch of the road where commuters on that stretch placed a call to Alhaji Wahab who has been assisting the Ejura police in curbing crimes in and around the area on market days.
Upon reaching the scene, the armed men in mofty tried to accost him, and when he sensed danger, fired a shot where the police also fired back. He says the Wahab was hit on the leg whilst one of the police officers was also hit. But the officer was unfortunately pronounced dead at the hospital.
Speaking on Ghanakoma morning show on Akoma 87.9fm in Kumasi with Aduanaba Kofi Asante Ennin, the Member of Parliament for Ejura_Sekyedumase Constituency, Hon Muhammad Bawah Braimah, described the police statement as unfortunate.
He called for independent inquiry into the issue.
By Benjamin Aidoo|AkomaFM|Onuaonline.com
