SECURITY WAS beefed up yesterday at Nkoranza in the Bono East Region after a police station was attacked, suspects freed and vehicles destroyed by irate youth of the town.
The youth, who were protesting the killing of a 28-year-old businessman, Albert Donkor, attacked the police station Tuesday, pelting personnel on duty with stones and sticks.
DAILY GUIDE gathered that the police also responded with the firing of warning shots.The gunfire resulted in the death of one of the protesters and injures to seven others, escalating the tension.
Police stated that Victor Kwaku Owusu died while receiving treatment, and that two of the injured had been treated and discharged.
The remaining five people are still on admission and in stable condition, the police added.
Albert Donkor was reportedly shot and killed by officers who described him as an armed robber, flaring trouble around the Nkoranza District Police Headquarters.
Police Account
“On Tuesday, May 17, 2022, the Nkoranza Police Divisional and District Headquarters were invaded by some irate mob who attacked the stations with all forms of dangerous implements. The mob were allegedly protesting the death of Albert Donkor, an armed robbery suspect who died during a police anti-robbery operation. Police responded appropriately to the situation, including bringing in reinforcement teams from the Regional Headquarters and adjoining regions to restore law and order.
“During the incident, six suspects who were in police custody managed to escape and strenuous efforts are underway to have them recaptured.
Also, as a result of the attack, six persons were injured and sent to the St. Theresa’s Hospital, Nkoranza.
“According to the hospital authorities, one of them died while receiving treatment and five others are currently on admission responding to treatment. Two suspects have so far been arrested in connection with the attacks and are in police custody.
“All other persons involved in perpetrating this barbaric act are being pursued to face justice. The situation is under control and police have deployed extensively at Nkoranza and its environs,” the police noted.
Prior Claims
Earlier on Tuesday, the police said officers gathered intelligence that Albert Donkor and a gang of five other suspected armed robbers, whose names they did not give, were involved in several armed robbery attacks in the region,including armed robbery attacks at Nkoranza on April 19 and 20, 2022.
The statement, signed by DCOP Kwesi Ofori, Director-General in charge of Public Affairs, indicated that based on this intelligence, an operation was conducted during which Albert Donkor was shot.
According to the police, he was rushed to the Holy Family Hospital for medical attention, but he was pronounced dead on arrival, adding that following the death of suspect Albert Donkor, the Bono East Regional Police Command held engagements with his family and other relevant stakeholders in response to their concerns regarding the incident.
The statement said the Police Professional Standards Bureau (PPSB) had commenced an investigation into the incident to ascertain whether the operation was carried out in line with the standard operating procedures of the Service, pointing out that a team from the PPSB had visited the area in this regard.
Stand-off
However, the explanation by the police angered the youth of the town, leading to the violent disorder in Nkoranza on Tuesday.
Dozens of young people, during a protest to demand justice for Albert, split from the march to surround the district police headquarters, where windows were smashed and missiles hurled at police during the stand-off.
The irate youth released six suspects who were in police cells and destroyed vehicles parked at the District Police Headquarters during the melee.
Regional Minister
The Bono East Regional Minister, Kwasi Adu Gyan, has assured of a thorough investigation into the death of Albert Donkor, while calling on the angry youth of the area to remain calm.
He said what happened to the late Albert Donkor could happen to any other person, and therefore requires proper investigations to prevent future occurrence, saying, “We will not allow any conniving and condoning to this because today, it is Albert Donkor, tomorrow it could be me.”
“I am lucky I am the minister, I have the police with me. Tomorrow what happens if I am no more a minister? Anyone of us could be Albert Donkor,” he told a news conference on Tuesday.
“So, this is not an issue that we, those in authority, including the traditional rulers, will relent on at all,” the minister assured.
