Robbers Flog Customs Officer

A gang of suspected armed robbers have taken their activities to another level by allegedly subjecting a customs officer to serious flogging. The purported gangsters reportedly injured him, collected his gun and shot another person in the process.

The incident occurred at the Wodome checkpoint of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) near Kpetoe in the Agotime-Ziope District of the Volta Region.

An eyewitness who narrated the incident to DAILY GUIDE, noted that the incident occurred in the dark at the checkpoint. He said, “The checkpoint area, which is about 200 meters from the Customs Training School in Kpetoe, is not connected to the national grid.”

A source at the GRA narrated that the robbers attacked from a nearby bush wielding guns and pounced on the officer on duty and demanded for his weapon.

They subjected the officer and an errand boy (popularly called Torgbui), who was with him at the time, to beatings and demanded the release of the weapons at the checkpoint at gunpoint. After receiving several beatings with the butts of their guns, the customs officer, who had been identified as Samuel Kuinor, reportedly gave in.

The source said the officer gave in after the robbers had threatened to kill him. Samuel at this point directed them to the room where the gun was. The robbers allegedly broke into the room, ransacked it and made away with a ten-round SMG Riffle TB3569. The mobile phones of the customs officer were also taken away.

Torgbui, after a while, purportedly threw a chair at one of the robbers and dashed into a nearby bush. Unfortunately for him, the robbers opened fire at him and he fell down. Apparently, he was hit and sustained injury but he did not die.

The errand boy is receiving treatment at the Volta Regional Hospital while the officer was discharged from the hospital the third day after the incident and had since returned to post.

The incident had created fear and panic among residents in the area while more security men had been posted to the checkpoint.

Some officers who spoke to DAILY GUIDE on condition of anonymity said they had complained severally about the lack of light at the checkpoint and the few number of staff at the various checkpoints, but little had been done about the situation. Efforts to get the reaction of the sector command of the GRA-Customs were not successful as journalists were told investigations were underway.

However, the Volta Regional Police Commander DCOP Peterking Yentumi, confirmed the incident and added that investigation was ongoing and that the public should volunteer prompt information to the police to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book.