Police attacked at Manso Tontokrom in Ashanti

A violent confrontation between a Police patrol team of the Ashanti Regional Police Command and rampaging youth at Manso Tontokrom, in the Amansie South District on Thursday left one policeman injured and five of the youth with gunshot wounds.

Lance Corporal Samuel Kugyenu of the police SWAT Unit got injured, while the police vehicle which conveyed them to the location, was also damaged.

The police team went to the community to execute a court warrant issued by the Bekwai Circuit Court, for the arrest of some suspects said to be linked to a recent damage to property and the theft of some pump action guns, belonging to Benviko Company Limited, a mining company located in the community.

This was in a news release signed by Assistant Superintendent of Police Godwin Ahianyor, Public Affairs Officer of the Ashanti Regional Command and copied to the Ghana News Agency.

Three suspects namely; Madasil Iddris, 24, Kwadwo Addo, 33 and Emmanuel alias Oboy Emma, 39, who were named as accomplices in the said case were arrested.

The release said it was when they were returning to base with the suspects on board the police vehicle that one of the culprits raised an alarm that they were attacked by armed robbers.

This attracted some irate youth in the community leading to the confrontation.

Wielding Pump Action guns, Machete and other offensive weapons, they blocked the road with wooden logs, metal bars and other heavy equipment and attacked the patrol team demanding the release of the arrested three suspects.

The release said any attempt by the Police to dissuade the lawless, irate youth proved futile, as they became more aggressive and violent.

During the confrontation, a metal bar was used to hit the knee of Lance Corporal Kugyenu, resulting in the injury, whilst others fired Pump Action guns, pelted the police and the vehicle with stones and other missiles, causing damage to the Police vehicles, the release said.

The Police in self-defense fired some warning shots and managed to clear the road blocks mounted by the violent youth, while the wounded Lance Corporal was rescued and rushed to the Military Hospital, Kumasi where he was admitted and is receiving treatment, the release said.

Meanwhile the five persons namely Awal Mohammed 26years, Fuseini Issah 23, Kojo Tratra 21y, Sakura Omar 24, all farmers and Abu Salifu 17years from Tontokrom, who sustained gunshot wounds during the confrontation, are all receiving medical treatment at the St Martin’s Hospital at Agoroyesum, under Police guard.

The release said investigations have commenced into the matter.