Mamprugu youth accuse police of extrajudicial killings in Zuarungu, demand inquiry

The Mamprugu Youth Association (MAYA) has leveled serious accusations against the Ghana Police Service, claiming extrajudicial killings in the Upper East Region and labeling the situation a “national disgrace.”

They are demanding the establishment of an independent commission of inquiry.

At a press conference held on May 6,2026, MAYA expressed concerns about recent police operations in Zuarungu, which they argue are indicative of a broader pattern of unlawful killings and subsequent cover-ups.

According to adomonline.com,on May 8, 2026, one particularly troubling case is the March 2026 death of 33-year-old Abdul-Aziz Iddrisu, also known as Baaluuse, who died while in police custody. Police reportedly connected his arrest to an attack at the Karimenga barrier in December 2025, during which an officer was killed.

MAYA contended, “We warned that the incident was not isolated,” emphasising that it is part of a “troubling pattern of abuse in which state institutions are being used to carry out extrajudicial killings of Mamprusis in Bolgatanga.”

Following a police operation on April 30, ten individuals were apprehended in Zuarungu.

According to MAYA, all ten were alive and unharmed when they were taken to the Zuarungu Police Station, yet police later reported only four arrests and stated that two individuals had succumbed to gunshot wounds during the operation, which targeted a gang suspected of robbery.

MAYA expressed skepticism about the police’s version of events, stating, “The family finds this account inconsistent and misleading, an attempt to cover up wrongdoing and the murder they committed.”

They highlighted that four of the suspects were granted police enquiry bail, while the two deceased had been seen alive before their reported deaths.

The association pointed to discrepancies in police statements, including a change in the arrest date from April 29 to April 30, as well as additional details introduced in later accounts.

“The police statement was edited multiple times, with key details altered across versions, raising questions about its reliability,” MAYA noted.

Furthermore, MAYA questioned the timeline of when the deceased sustained their injuries and observed a lack of documented explanations.

They have accused certain officers of being “conflict entrepreneurs exploiting the Bawku conflict for personal gain.”

“The police do not have the authority under the Constitution or any law to take the life of a Ghanaian citizen through extrajudicial means,” the association asserted.

In light of these grave allegations, MAYA has called upon President John Dramani Mahama to initiate an independent inquiry and has urged the police to uphold transparency and accountability in their operations.

NAD/AM

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