Afram Plains North: Gun-toting soldiers, police 'kidnap' 9 men – MP

The MP for Afram Plains North has said some military and police personnel in the company of a white woman have “kidnapped” nine of her constituents – all men – in Rambo style.

Ms Betty Krosbi Nana Afua Mensah said in a statement that the incident occurred on Saturday, 27 April 2019 amidst heavy gunshots at Edrakpota, one of several island communities in her constituency.

She said children and women had to run into the bush for cover, adding that seven of the children who sought refuge in the bush have since not been found.

The lawmaker also said neither the police nor the army has given any indications as to where the order to storm the community came from.

According to her, there is also no information on the whereabouts and wellbeing of the nine men who were arrested by the uniformed men 24 hours after the incident, adding that the whole community has been thrown into a state of fear and panic.

Read the MP’s full statement below

MILITARY MEN KIDNAPPED CHILDREN IN AFRAM PLAINS IN RAMBOO STYLE

On Saturday, April, 27, 2019 between the hours 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., four (4) speed boats carrying men in military and police uniforms with one (1) white woman went to some Island communities in the Afram Plains North Constituency without any provocation amidst gunshots and in the process arrested nine (9) of my constituents.

The incident occurred at Edrakpota, one of the communities on the Didja Island which comprises 86 communities.

The action by the uniformed security men created fear and panic causing women and children to run into the bush for cover.

The whereabouts of seven (7) of the children who escaped into the bush cannot be traced 24 hours after that unfortunate incident.

No explanation was offered for the act and no one knows who ordered the arrest since contact with the Afram Plains police and Abotiase police have proven futile.

The situation has created a state of anxiety in the affected communities as parents are worried about the whereabouts of their children.

My efforts as the MP for the area to seek answers from the police has yielded no result.

The action by the uniformed men can only be described as kidnapping.

May I use this opportunity to appeal to the Police High Command, both at the Eastern regional and national levels, to intervene as a matter of urgency to find and relocate the missing children with their parents.

The nine residents (men) arrested should be released with immediate effect.

I also demand immediate answers as to who ordered the unprofessional arrest of the nine residents and for what reasons/ offence.

Thank you.

Signed

Hon Betty Krosbi Nana Afua Mensah

(MP, Afram Plains North Constituency).

For further details:

Please call the MP on 0208123879

Or Assembly Man for the Area

(John Gimbe on 0243239364 ).