A police post at Asempaneye Forest near Sefwi Sayerano in the Juaboso District of the Western North Region has been set ablaze by unidentified persons following a police shooting incident that claimed two lives in the community.
The incident occurred hours after a confrontation between residents and a police patrol team during an operation to arrest a suspected drug peddler.
Authorities have launched investigations to identify those behind the arson, while security has been reinforced in the area to maintain law and order.
The shooting has thrown the Sefwi Sayerano community into mourning, with emotional scenes witnessed as relatives and residents accompanied the bodies of the two deceased victims to the morgue at Sefwi Asafo.
According to residents, the victims were allegedly shot by personnel from the Sefwi Wiawso Divisional Police Command after some members of the community reportedly resisted the arrest of the suspected drug dealer.
The Western North Regional Police Command has since confirmed the incident and announced that eight police officers involved in the operation have been interdicted pending investigations.
In a statement issued on Monday, July 7, the Police said preliminary investigations indicate that the confrontation resulted in gunshot wounds to five people, two of whom later died, while three others are receiving treatment at the Asafo Roman Catholic Hospital.
The Inspector-General of Police has directed the Police Professional Standards Bureau (PPSB) to conduct a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
The Police said calm has been restored in the community and appealed to residents to remain peaceful and cooperate with investigators.
Meanwhile, investigations are also underway to identify and arrest those responsible for setting the police post ablaze.
The Police have assured the public that anyone found culpable in either the shooting incident or the destruction of the police facility will be dealt with in accordance with the law.
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