The suspects with the grenades at the police station yesterday
Three persons, including a self-confessed Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) member, have been arrested by the police in a swoop in Accra.
Those arrested were the ISIS member named by the police as Ishmael Ali Musa, 31; Abdul Karim, 30, believed to be a notorious land guard and suspected armed robber, as well as Osman Alhassan, 33, from Mali.
Personnel from the Odorkor Divisional Police Command, upon a tip-off, swooped on Abdul Karim at Agape Down, near Ablekuma, yesterday in the morning where they retrieved seven varied species believed to be hand grenades (bombs).
Information gathered indicated that the suspects, who have been working together for the previous year, imported 20 of the grenades from Libya and were said to be selling them.
According to police sources, the suspects reportedly imported other weapons, including AK 47 rifles, side arm pistols and some quantities of ammunition.
Abdul Karim, led the police to Kata International Hotel, near Nyamekye in Accra – where his master, Ishmael was hiding – to arrest him.
Ali Musah was with Osman Alhassan when the police team got to the hotel.
Upon interrogation, the suspects allegedly confessed and mentioned their source of supply as Libya.
According to the police, they also admitted that 13 grenades, together with all the weapons, had already been sold to customers in Ghana.
“They also mentioned three communities in Accra where the said grenades were,” the source averred, but did not name the communities for investigation purposes.
The police are currently working with the military to retrieve the 13 grenades currently in the hands of unauthorized persons in the country.
The military team, which was at the Odorkor police station when DAILY GUIDE got there yesterday, was seen examining five of the seven grenades.
Meanwhile, the suspects have been sent to the Greater Accra Regional Police Command for further interrogations.
Drama unfolded when some individuals who heard about the grenades story trooped to the regional police office to satisfy their curiosity.
The suspects were later reportedly sent to the national police headquarters for further interrogations.
A statement from the Public Affairs Unit of the Ghana Police Service, signed by ACP David Eklu, Director General in-charge of the unit, confirmed that the police intercepted the explosives which are in varied species.
ACP Eklu said the police, in collaboration with other relevant agencies, were investigating the matter and urged the public to remain calm as they work to ensure public safety.
AU Prediction
On December 11, 2017, an African Union (AU) Commissioner for Peace and Security, Smail Chergui, warned that over 6,000 Africans who fought for the Islamic States (IS) in Iraq and Syria could return home.
He indicated to BBC that African nations needed to coordinate intelligence activities to counter the threat.
Speaking at a meeting in Algiers, the Algerian capital, Mr. Chergui said there were reports of 6,000 African fighters among the 30,000 foreign elements who joined the terrorist group in the Middle East.
“The return of these elements to Africa poses a serious threat to our national security and stability and requires specific treatment and intense cooperation between African countries,” he underscored.
By Linda Tenyah- Ayettey