IGP declares zero tolerance for land guards, vigilantes

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), David Asante-Apeatu, has said the law enforcement body has had enough of land guards and vigilantes.

Speaking at the launch of ‘Operation Father Christmas’ on Thursday, 6 December 2018 at the Police Headquarters in Accra, Mr Asante-Apeatu said:

“Any act of land guards and people calling themselves vigilantes that will infringe upon the laws of the land shall be met with the full might of the Ghana Police Service”.

Several vigilante groups affiliated to the two major political parties in the country have, on several occasions, taken the laws into their hands and assaulted citizens and destroyed property.

The activities of land guards have also made life unbearable for some members of the public.

Recently, a group of land guards attacked the Agape Restoration Ministry Church located in Tema, Community 19 near Second Gate on Wednesday, 28 November 2019.

The police arrested one Daniel Alabi, the leader of the gang numbering about 30. They stormed the premises of the church around 8:30 am and ransacked the whole place.

One of the church members, Selorm Hayford, told ClassFMonline.com that the land guards were claiming the 2-plot property on which the church is situated, for an NDC politician who once contested the Krowor parliamentary seat.

The marauding land guards vandalized all structures on the property including cars.

In the violence, the land guards inflicted wounds on the Head pastor, Prophet Ebenezer Arthur, as well as his assistant pastor and three others.