I'm sure Capt. Mahama was taken by surprise - Effah-Dartey

Captain Retired Nkrabea Effah-Dartey in analyzing the death of Captain Maxwell Adam Mahama in the hands of the mob in Denkyira-Boase in the Central Region has concluded that the late Captain of the 5th Infantry Battalion (5BN) was taken by surprise.

A military officer with the 5th Infantry Battalion (5BN) at Burma Camp in Accra but on detachment duties at Denkyira Boase in the Upper Denkyira West District of the Central region has been lynched by residents on suspicion of being an armed robber.

Captain Maxwell Mahama who is commander of a military detachment in the area according to his subordinates, on Monday dawn was seen jogging along the main road and as he stopped by to ask some women for directions, they saw the pistol on him.

According to them, he was not dressed in military uniform and because of recent spate of armed robbery in the town after residents were attacked a day earlier, the women called the Assembly man who organized the youth of the town to lynch him.

Speaking to the issue on Okay FM’s 'Ade Akye Abia' Morning Show, Capt. Rtd. Effah-Dartey said it is very difficult to imagine what exactly happened.

“I am sure he never expected anything like that happening when he was going for the jogging but because he is an Infantry soldier, he decided to pick his weapon for the jogging for any eventualities,” he asserted.

He stressed that “I am sure he must have been taken completely by surprise when the attack came and so before he could read between the lines to know what is happening and even pull out his gun to fire, he was under attacked.”

He reiterated that it is possible the late Capt. Mahama was surprised to the extent that he didn’t have the presence of mind to even defend himself in the process of the attack; hence the mob in the area pelted him with stones to the point of death and eventually killing him.

“It is difficult but it is so unfortunate because if he knew he was going into enemy zone or territory, he would not have trotted to that area or even move in the company of two soldiers for protection,” he asserted.