Police to invite Invisible Forces leaders over ‘defiant’ comments

The Northern Regional Police Command will soon haul leaders of vigilante group, Invisible Forces, to answer questions on some “defiant” comments made by leader of the group Alhassan Ibrahim Abandi.

Alhassan Ibrahim Abandi, who commands the Invisible Forces, a vigilante group with affiliation to the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), was reported to have told his charges after a clean-up exercise on Saturday that all police commanders in the region have been told to refrain from ‘disturbing’ members of the group if they were suspected to be involved in a crime. He also said the leadership of the group were to be notified anytime a member is arrested, adding that the group has backings from the executives to carry out any operations without being arrested.

But Speaking to the issue on Onua FM Morning show, Northern Regional Police spokesperson ACP Ussif Tanko said the law is applicable to everyone equally, adding that police in the region will not hesitate to deal with any group or individual who falls foul of the law. He noted that the police in the region will not tolerate and encourage any person whose activities will seek to undermine the work of the police service.

While admitting to Bright Kwesi Asempa, host of Onua FM morning show Yen Nsem Pa that they have no knowledge of the statement made by Alhassan Ibrahim Abandi days after it was made, ACP Ussif Tanko noted that investigations will be conducted and if it turns out to be true, the leaders of the group will be invited for questioning and subsequent action taken.

“As we speak, we have no information to that effect, except that radio stations are calling me to interview me on it. But we will look into it and we will invite them if it is true. We have to find out who is behind them urging them to speak the way they are reported to have done.”

Asked how soon the Police Command in the region will commence investigation into the alleged pronouncements, ACP Ussif Tanko said “I will repeat, I am not the final authority on this, so I will inform my superior to advise on the next line of action but I can assure you that we will look into it”.

ACP Ussif Tanko assured that such pronouncements would not be countered, adding that if any member of the Invisible Forces is caught breaking the law, they will be arrested and prosecuted.

“We will not bow to any political pressure from anybody because nobody is above the law. We will apply the law as at when we are supposed to without fear or favor.”

Meanwhile, attempts to reach the said commander of the Northern Region branch of the Invisible Forces Alhassan Ibrahim Abandi for his reaction, proved futile.