Francis Gesaloge Boyesah Okoro, a resident of the community, claimed that the Police, who were on night patrol, went to the area to arrest some “ghetto” youths, “who were smoking hard drugs at the time.”

He said the young man resisted arrest, which degenerated into chaos with warning shots, as a result of which Sey was hit by a stray bullet and later died in hospital.

Dambai Lakeside Assemblyman, Emmanuel Atali, who confirmed the altercation between the Police and the youth, said he heard a gunshot on Sunday around 8:pm and found the deceased lying in a pool of blood.

He said he went to officially report to the Police station and then the body was taken to Worawora Hospital for preservation.

This sparked fear in the community as residents and pedestrians alike ran for cover.

Two motorcycles belonging to the police officers were destroyed on the spot by some of the angry youths.

Police have arrested two people to assist in investigations.

Meanwhile, Police from the Divisional and Regional Commands remained silent on the incident when the Ghana News Agency visited the station to verify the reports.

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The deceased, Felicia Danquah, and her child were reportedly hit by a stray bullet when one of four soldiers attacked residents who were observing the interment of a colleague who died after falling into an illegal mining pit, three months ago.

According to the assembly member for the area, Kwame Amponsah, the military officer, who is yet to be identified, ran after the mourners and physically assaulted an onlooker.

He proceeded to fire shots into the air to disperse the residents, but an accidental shot into the ground deflected and hit the nursing mother and her baby.

The 30-year-old mother is said to have died on Sunday evening at the Komfo Anokye Teaching hospital after sustaining an injury to her stomach while her baby, who was tied to her back, got shot in the palm.

The deceased was an operator of a pub in the community established by her husband.

It is unclear what may have instigated the incident.

There is however uneasy calm in the community as the aggrieved youth have demanded the withdrawal of the military deployment to the area.

Luv News understands leadership of the Ashanti Regional Police headquarters have since visited the bereaved family and assured that the perpetrators will be brought to book.

The police added that he was rushed to the Edo Specialist Hospital where he gave up the ghost.

The erring officer has been arrested and will go through administrative trial that will determine his culpability.

Police said Nwaechie was allegedly involved in the alleged murder of one Bright Orikose on December 24, 2020.

However, Esther, one of Adam’s elder sisters, disagreed with the account. She lamented the attempt by the police to twist the narrative.

“My brother was not killed by a stray bullet as the police claimed. He was aimed at in the second car which Ebuka was not even inside. While treating my brother, the doctor told us that he was hit by a close-range bullet and that he lost so much blood before his death,” she said. 

According to a report by Foundation For Investigative Journalism (FIJ), the deceased was driving with his friend, Kelvin Uwumunse, when “some police detectives in mufti violently waylaid their cars.”

The report said Adam and his friends were unsure of the identity of the people, so they tried to make a detour, but gunshots were fired at them, one of which hit Adam in his thigh. 
 
It was gathered that the police later arrested and detained three of Adam’s friends. They also reportedly failed to document the shooting at the station. 

“It was after we got to the hospital that the police believed and gave us N120,000 for the treatment,” the family lawyer told FIJ.

Police Constable Amidu Ousman is said to have fired a warning shot in his attempt to scare the mourners away and create space for the van.

But a stray bullet shattered the window on the driver’s side of the vehicle killing the driver instantly.

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Eastern Region Police spokesperson ASP Ebenezer Tetteh confirmed the incident in an interview.

“On reaching Odumasi Manya Krono…he saw some mourners carrying a coffin and had blocked the road with the coffin. So the policeman in an attempt to open up the road to enable van with the money on board to quickly get away from the scene where there has been traffic, he accidentally fired and the gun shot hit the bullion van driver who died instantly.

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The identity of the bullion van driver is yet to be ascertained, ASP Tetteh said adding, attempts are being made to get in touch with the bullion van driver.

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The mourners also abandoned the coffin and took to their heels. The police constable is currently assisting with the investigation.

The deceased was returning from Tamale Thursday night with his two colleagues in a vehicle with registration number GM 2604- 12 when they were trapped in heavy shots that came from many directions.

Engineers and Planners is the contractor working on the Tamale – Salaga road.

A survivor who narrated the incident to Adom News’ Illiasu Abdul Rauf said the incident happened between Kpalbisi and Jidanturu, two isolated communities in the East Gonja district where there were recent reports of wild animal invasion.

According to him, when they reached the scene, there was no sign of robbers or any gun activities but that only gunshots were heard.

“When we went a bit further from the scene, I checked on Williams to know if he is fine only to realise he was hit in the head by the bullet from the gun shot,” he cried.

Police in the area have taken the deceased to the Tamale Teaching Hospital morgue and investigation is underway.

Earlier, the youth had a rough time with the police who they have always accused of failing to protect lives and property.

The police was said to have abandoned the body of the deceased under a tree for several minutes, a move that irritated the youth who stormed the police station and have vowed to demonstrate against the police.

source: Ghana/Adom News/Illiasu Abdul Rauf