Library Photo: Arrested
The suspected ring leader in last Friday’s riot at Kwapong in the Asunafo South District of the Brong-Ahafo Region that saw the town’s police station vandalised and a police vehicle destroyed has been arrested.
Salifu Kabore, according to the police, is receiving treatment at the regional hospital under a 24-hour police guard.
The suspect purportedly led a mob action in the town leading to the release of a suspect, Efo Kojo, from police detention, after which he was set ablaze in front of the police station.
Kabore, according to the Deputy Brong-Ahafo Regional Police Commander, ACP Patrick Adusei Sarpong, was arrested at a private hospital at Nkwawie in the Ashanti Region receiving treatment over alleged gunshot wounds he sustained during the violent encounter with the police.
He was previously sent to a hospital in Bibiani for treatment but had to be referred to the private hospital at Nkawie after it became apparent that the hospital lacked the facilities to treat him.
“He was hit with a bullet and before the police were aware, his men had taken him away to a nearby town called Nyinahini for treatment. We followed it up and later got to know that he had been sent to Nkawie to a private hospital. We followed it up and got him. So we took him and put him in an ambulance and brought him to Sunyani where he is receiving treatment at a hospital,” ACP Sarpong told Kasapa Fm.
“After the treatment, he will lead the police into investigations and show us the number of men he led to occupy the police station at Kwapong,” the police chief added.
Efo Kojo, a 27-year-old fetish priest, was said to have stabbed and killed one Kwaku Frimpong Donkor, 22, a tricyclist he (Efo) contracted to cart his goods from the farm to the house.
This angered the youth in the area who stormed the police station and subsequently vandalised the place after a stray bullet killed another person, Kwame Wiafe.
The police explained that the riot was triggered by the stabbing of Frimpong, who was rushed to a nearby hospital.
“At the hospital, they initially reported that Frimpong had had an accident but upon a thorough examination, the hospital attendants disputed that claim and directed them to send him to a health facility at Kukuom for treatment. He was later sent to another hospital at Goaso accompanied by some family members where he met his untimely death.
“So, the driver came to Kwapong to lodge a complaint around 12 midnight and immediately the police dispatched a team to arrest Efo. When the news got to Kwapong that Frimpong was dead, the youth got angry and took the law into their hands. They then went to the police station and vandalised the place and in the process, broke into the cells and brought out Efo and stoned him to death. His body was later dragged to the roadside and burnt into ashes with some used tyres,” the police narrated.
Tuobodom
Meanwhile, a Sunyani Magistrate Court B yesterday remanded three suspects in the Tuobodom shooting incident to re-appear on August 24, 2015.
The three, Kwadwo Tano Bosumfuo, Amoako Stephen and Fred Obitshree, were charged with attempted murder and remanded into police custody.
Briefing DAILY GUIDE, the Brong-Ahafo Regional Crime Officer, Superintendent Alahaji Maama Arhin, said their pleas were not taken.
Superintendent Arhin said two others who were picked up would be charged with possession of firearms without authority.
He, however, said the situation at Tuobodm now is calm as more security men are patrolling the streets to prevent further violence.
