Residents of Afram Plains South District in the Eastern Region are planning to embark on a massive demonstration over rampant highway robbery attacks claiming the police supplied their weapons being used to them.
The residents say the highway robbery menace has created fear and panic among travellers particularly traders with high effects on farmers, traders and the whole of Afram Plains inhabitants as lives sometimes are lost.
The residents are demanding the immediate interdiction, investigation and subsequent prosecution of Sergeant Fidelis Mochia, stationed at Kwahu -Tease Police Post who is implicated with evidence as to the mastermind of the robbery attacks.
They alleged that the officer supplies weapons and provides the robbers accurate information on commuters to aid their attack without being arrested.
They explained that on December 21, 2019, the robbers attacked one Mr.Seidu Sisala, a resident of Asukesi No.1 while heading towards Donkokrom to which he was able to identify the robbers. Hence, on January 2, 2020, with the help of the residents, one of the suspects who is believed to launch the attack on Mr Sisala was arrested while buying gari in the market.
The residents claim that to avert mob attack, the suspect appealed to the mob to allow him to call his boss which the Police officer was called, and on loud mobile phone, speaker reprimanded the suspect for embarking on a robbery attack he did not sanction.
In a petition issued by the group and copied to the National Security Minister and the Inspector General of Police, they have called for broad-based investigations of the robbery issues. This is to clear the rumour of Police officers being protected in situations like this, which has been creating a massive suspicion of other top officers being involved.
They are also demanding “a fresh investigation into all Fulani herdsmen cases handled by the officer in question since there are heaps of allegations of always defending the herdsmen against farmers which sometimes bother them on criminality.”
Moro Inusah, one of the leaders of the aggrieved residents told Bryt FM, the implicated Police officer has been transferred hurriedly.
In August 2016, four persons suffered gunshot wounds whilst rampaging residents who accused the local police of being behind the numerous robbery attacks, torched the Police station and barracks at Donkokrom together with a Police Vehicle.
Their action was in protest against the escape of two police officers who were part of an armed robbery gang that attacked a bullion van and killed the driver.
The policemen -Abrokwah Kissi and Solomon Elvis Mensah aka Fire, while the civilian accomplice is Dejimah Mohammed were rearrested and currently facing prosecution.
Source: Mybrytfmonline/Obed Ansah
