Judge abruptly exits court, police fire warning shots to disperse agitated crowd at Wa

Residents of Wa gathered at the forecourt of the Wa Magistrate Court to demand a swift trial of suspects involved in the brutal murder of Alhaji Mutala Mahama, who was gruesomely killed in his home on April 11, 2024.

Mutala’s throat was slit, which has sent ripples of fear and outrage throughout the community, leading to widespread demands for justice and transparency in handling the case.

One of the suspects, Abdu Halim Yahaya, was initially arrested days after the murder but was released on bail.

However, during further investigations, the police apprehended another suspect, which led to Halim’s re-arrest on Saturday, August 17, 2024, asaaseradio.com reports.

On the morning of August 21, many residents arrived early, driven by the hope that the legal process would finally begin, and that the suspects would be formally charged.

However, the situation took a dramatic turn when the presiding judge abruptly exited the courtroom, got into his car, and left without explanation, the report added.

This unexpected move left the crowd confused and agitated.

As frustration mounted, the crowd redirected their focus towards the Upper West Regional Police Command, located just a few meters from the court.

The report said that confronted by the overwhelming crowd, the police fired warning shots in an attempt to disperse the gathering.

Despite arresting one agitator, the residents remained resolute, chanting the name of one of the suspects, a native of Wa, as a sign of their dissatisfaction with how the case was being handled.

Kayum Hussein Tendana, the spokesperson for the deceased’s family, expressed the deep disappointment felt by the residents.

He explained that the family and other community members had expected the suspects to be brought to court to secure their remand, especially after the arrests made on August 17.

Kayum strongly believes that the suspects are responsible not only for Mutala’s murder, but also for a series of other killings that have plagued Wa, the report said.

He urged all families affected by these serial killings to take an active interest in the ongoing case, emphasizing the need for collective action to ensure that justice is served.

In his appeal, Kayum called on the police to accelerate the trial process, underscoring the importance of swift legal proceedings not just for his family but for the entire Wa community, which has been gripped by fear and anger since the spate of killings began.

TWI NEWS

NAY/AE

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