Only a fool dies with a gun – MP urges police to be ruthless with criminals

Vice Chairman of the Defence and Interior Committee and Member of Parliament for Wa West, Peter Lanchene Toobu, has urged officers of the Ghana Police Service (GPS) to prioritise their safety while executing their duties.

Speaking in an interview on Sompa FM, the former police officer encouraged his former colleagues not to relent in neutralising individuals who threaten their lives, including hardened criminals.

“If a person decides to be an armed robber and is willing to kill, my message, which I reiterate every day for Mr Christian Tetteh Yohuno to hear, is that only a fool carries a gun and becomes the deceased. Only a fool carries a gun and, within two minutes, is called the late,” he stated.

Explaining his position, the MP said police officers, armed with legal authority, have a duty to protect lives at all costs, especially when their own lives are at risk.

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“The point I am making is that you’re talking about a state-supported person given a gun to protect state property. You would only be a foolish police officer to be armed while on duty, covered by the Constitution, and allow someone to shoot and kill you when you’re tasked with protecting us. It is painful, and it happens often, but I am stating as a matter of fact that if you’re a smart person with functioning intelligence, you press the trigger first. You don’t allow the criminal to press the trigger first.

“They don’t go out with the intention of killing people, but when we talk about the protection of life and property, the life and property of the police officer come first. You protect your own life before you can protect others. So, you need the skill to safeguard your own life before you can protect the lives of other citizens. Only a highly professional police officer, armed on duty, will prevent someone from killing them. They don’t go out to kill people, but in protecting their own lives, if you pose a threat, they will end you. We applaud them for the work they are doing and implore them to continue performing better, while cautioning those who intend to perpetrate crime to desist from it, as it will lead to their death,” he added.

His comments were in response to a recent operation by the Ghana Police Service, which led to the arrest of 10 members of a 15-member bank robbery gang operating across the country.

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According to a recent press conference addressed by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, three members of the gang, which primarily targeted rural banks, died during a shootout with police, while the remaining two are still at large.

GA/VPO

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