Two young police officers in the Upper East Region have been shot dead by suspected armed robbers who were said to be fleeing a crime scene in Zuarungu last Wednesday.
According to a police report, whilst the Zuarungu Police were deploying officers to respond to a distress call from the Zuarungu Market where a robbery operation was ongoing, another call reported the fatal shooting of two officers.
The remains of the shot G/Const. Emmanuel Akowuah and G/Const. Adam Suley have been deposited at the Bolgatanga Hospital morgue for autopsy and preservation.
Upon reaching the crime scene, the Bolgatanga Divisional Commander, Chief Superintendent Dela Dzansi and the Regional Crime Officer, Superintendent Dugah reportedly saw a burnt motorbike registered GP 2311 on which the two killed officers were riding, parked by the road in front of a provision shop.
An eyewitness version has it that the two police officers who were on a routine patrol in Zuarungu stopped to buy food at about 7pm on Wednesday night at a popular spot called Baba Store when the fleeing armed robbers spotted them and fired at them instantly, killing both personnel.
The bodies of the dead officers were partly burnt when they were discovered. They could have been torched as a result of the motorbike catching fire through fuel tank leakage when the robbers rained bullets on them.
Describing the incident as a ‘Black Wednesday’ on their Facebook account, the Ghana Police Service posted: “we have lost two of our officers through the activities of criminals, while on patrols this night within the Zuarungu Township to safeguard life and property.”
The robbers fled the scene after the incident on a motorcycle before a police reinforcement team arrived at the scene.
The Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, rushed to the scene in the Upper East Region to assess the development yesterday.
Armed robbers have not hesitated to fire upon police officers this year, having registered a number of such fatalities.
By and large, armed robbers are on the back foot; the Police Administration having adopted a new model in dealing with their onslaught a few months ago.
The murder of a police officer on a bullion van escort duty comes to mind. The young cop was killed by armed robbers at Adedenkpo, near Jamestown in Accra.
The Cenotaph at the Police Depot has a long list of fallen officers in the line of duty.
Meanwhile, a GH¢50,000 bounty has been put on the heads of the robbers by the Police Administration.
By A.R. Gomda