NPP names suspected shooter

Mohammed Abdul-Kudus, Northern Regional Communications Director of New Patriotic Party (NPP), has named one Yakubu Operipaa, who according to him was among the group who allegedly shot and wounded party supporters on Thursday night.

He has therefore called on the police to, as a matter of urgency, arrest the suspect and his accomplices to demonstrate their commitment to duty and readiness to guarantee peace and security of the people at the congress.

Mr Abdul-Kudus made the allegations in a statement issued in Tamale on Friday.

He said the supporters were making merry for hosting the National Delegates’ Congress at Zogbeli, a suburb of Tamale when unknown assailants from unregistered cab pulled up and shot into the crowd indiscriminately injuring nine of them in the process.

“The security promised an incident free but with thousands of their personnel deployed it is obvious from (Thursday) incident that the expected serenity is not in the numbers…We wish to urge the security, the police in particular to step up efforts at maintaining peace,” he said.

Mr Abdul-Kudus indicated that several unresolved cases in the Region and Tamale Metropolises in particular are creating a state of insecurity and challenged the preparedness of the security to act against the desperados.

Responding to the statement, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ebenezer Tetteh advised the party and the public to share information with the police on the quiet instead of doing so through the media.

He said when the suspect is named in public it makes the work of the police difficult since the suspect is likely to abscond.

ASP Tetteh assured the delegates of adequate protection and a sustained peace and security since the police had deployed sufficient numbers at the vantage points.

It would be recalled that nine supporters of the NPP were shot Thursday night when they were making merry, one is in critical condition while the rest are in stable conditions and receiving treatment at the Tamale Teaching Hospital.