Dozens of police officers within the Tamale metropolis in the Northern Region yesterday abandoned their duty posts following violent attacks on them by some soldiers.
The attacks by the irate soldiers, Today learnt, stemmed from the reason that one of their colleagues was arrested following a complaint of assault.
And packed in three military vehicles and armed to the teeth, the soldiers moved to town from their base, and unleashed their fury on any police officer who was spotted in town.
That was not all; the paper further gathered that the soldiers moved to various banks in the Tamale metropolis and cruelly assaulted police officers who were on duty.
Today’s findings revealed that about eight police officers were severely injured in the ensuing melee.
The situation subsequently forced all the police personnel in the region to withdraw from their posts until they were given weapons by their command to retaliate.
Speaking to a cross-section of journalists on the issue, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Mr Emmanuel Holortu in-charge of DOVVSU in Tamale, disclosed that the said soldier, Eric Darko, a Corporal with the Airforce, owns a taxi, which he gave to one Alhassan, a taxi driver.
Alhassan, DSP Holortu, noted failed to account for a day’s sales of Ghc35.
“On May 1, 2018, Corporal Eric Darko traced the taxi driver to a Tamale suburb and allegedly assaulted the driver after some exchanges and an explanation that he was not working that day because it was a holiday,” DSP Holortu narrated.
According to him, the matter was reported to DOVVSU and Corporal Darko was invited as part of investigations.
DSP Holortu continued that Corporal Darko, who was accompanied by a Lieutenant, reported to the police on May 8, 2018 and was granted a police enquiry bail to report yesterday (Wednesday May 16, 2018.
Both Corporal Darko and the complainant, Alhassan, reported at DOVVSU, yesterday, and after interrogation, the police investigator charged Corporal Darko with assault and was expected to be processed for court yesterday, DSP Holortu noted.
According to DSP Holortu, Corporal Darko was subsequently put in handcuffs and he requested to be allowed to make a phone call but took to his heels in the process whiet still in handcuffs and was pursued by the police.
With the help of some civilians, the police managed to re-arrest him and while he was being brought back to the police station, they came across a team of soldiers who were on guard duties at the Bank of Ghana premises.
The soldiers reportedly intervened and collected the keys to the handcuffs from the police and assaulted them.
They sent word to the barracks and more soldiers stormed town to assault the police officers.
The soldiers were said to have fired warning shots in the process.
However, attempts by Today to seek further clarification from the Northern Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP), George Adusei Sarpong, proved futile, as several calls placed on his telephone went unanswered.
