The traditional ruler of Bepotenten Sukuum in the Ashanti Region, Nana Boadi Ampem, has insisted that the violent attack on police officers in Jacobu on January 23, 2026, was carried out by outsiders from Denkyira Dominase, not residents of his town.
The incident occurred while officers were on routine patrol and had recovered a pump-action gun from a 15-year-old boy. The officers instructed the minor to inform the gun’s owner to report to the police station with the required documentation.
However, as the patrol team was returning, they were confronted by a crowd of about 100 people who blocked the road. Some members of the group were armed with cutlasses and firearms and reportedly assaulted the officers, seizing a service rifle in the process.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Nana Boadi Ampem clarified that the perpetrators had crossed the River Offin into Sukuum. “The perpetrators are not indigenes of this town. They crossed the River Offin and came to cause the chaos. They are from Dominase, not Bepotenten Sukuum,” he said.
He added that fear has gripped the community since the attack, prompting many young men to flee to avoid potential wrongful arrests. “A lot of the young men have fled the town because of the incident. They have no hand in it and don’t want to be arrested,” the Odikro explained.
Linking the tension to a previous security operation in Obuasi, where mass arrests followed disturbances, he said residents fear a repeat in Sukuum. “Sometime ago, there was a similar incident in Obuasi and a lot of people were arrested. I believe that is why my people have fled,” he noted.
The chief appealed to security agencies to exercise restraint to avoid victimising innocent residents. “I will urge the security operatives to exercise restraint because if they were indigenes of this town, I would have given them up,” Nana Boadi Ampem added.
He reaffirmed his commitment to peace and cooperation with authorities, stressing that the community is ready to assist investigations, provided only those directly involved are held accountable.
The incident has heightened tensions in the area, with calls for a thorough investigation to ensure justice is served while protecting innocent citizens.
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