Confusion at Police station as suspect seizes rifle

Wa (Upper West), 13 Jan.'99 - There was confusion at the police station and some parts of the Upper West regional administration block in Wa yesterday, when Francis Naadum, a 27 year old suspect, seized an AK 47 rifle, knocked down a policeman and threatened to shoot anyone who would go near him. It took about six policemen and some civilians over 30 minutes to over power him. Police Inspector Bruce Owusu, told newsmen that the suspect was remanded in prison custody for stealing and escaping from lawful custody when he was arraigned before the Wa circuit court presided over by Justice Gibson K. Adzagli. While waiting at the police charge office to be escorted into prison custody, he seized the AK 47 rifle on a table, threatened all those there and escaped through a window. Inspector Owusu said Francis tried to fire the gun but he could not operate it and when police corporal D.K Boamah tried to disarm him from behind, he hit him with the rifle resulting in a deep cut on his head. The accused grew wild and all those around took to their heels but a group of policemen and some civilians who realised that he could not operate the rifle pounced on him and disarmed him. He is to reappear on January 19, 1999, on the original two charges and two more charges of causing harm and resisting arrest.