Armed attacks: Kumasi put under 24-hour surveillance

Kumasi in the Ashanti Region has been put under 24-hour police surveillance following days of gun attacks on residents.

Nhyira FM’s Ohemeng Tawiah reports the metropolis has been taken over by large number of police personnel to secure residents, most of whom have been thrown into a state of fear and panic.

Kumasi made the headlines for all the wrong reasons when over 30 gunmen took to the streets and in open bravado shot indiscriminately into the air, attacked and robbed some residents before fleeing when the blare of the police siren was heard.

The attacks have left residents terrified and MPs angry accusing the police of doing very little to secure their constituents.

MP for Bantama, Henry Kokofu, told Joy News the constituents will begin to defend themselves if they have a good cause to feel the state cannot protect them.

According to him, the armed robbers have taken undue advantage of the erratic power supply and always terrorise the residents whenever the lights go off.

“We have been living in perpetual fear,” he said, adding, the attacks reached its climax when the armed men showed up firing into the air and terrorising the people.

He said if the police won’t protect them, “We will take steps to defend ourselves”.

But the police have taken up the challenge. Ohemeng Tawiah said the Regional Police Command has never been this busy.

Hundreds of police men have been dispatched to provide a sense of security in the neighborhoods where the armed attacks have been rampant.

Even though the police will not disclose all their strategies to avert the constant armed attacks, they have instituted a 24 hour surveillance strategy to keep the miscreants away.

Already, some 50 suspects have been arrested with lots of unregistered motorbikes also seized.

The new security measures appear to be restoring some confidence in the populace.

Bantama MP, Henry Kokofu said the police would have to be commended for the steps taken to ensure peace and security in the area.