Soldiers go on rampage

.... Despite promises of no more ?Buge Buga?

Soldiers who are currently on patrol duties in the mining areas of the Western Region are reported to have gone on rampage on Independence Day at Prestea and succeeded in inflicting several wounds on the civilian population, using the butt of their guns.

As if this was not enough, the soldiers, some of whom were named only as Adongo, Thomas and Adu, allegedly went to the Prestea Government Hospital around 7:30pm the same day to attack some of their victims, who had been rushed to the hospital, on their hospital bed.

The Chronicle was told that the attitude of the soldiers on that night led to the nurses who were on duty and other patients running helter-skelter to save their dear lives from being terminated, as the soldiers were seen firing warning shots in all directions at the hospital.

Investigations conducted by The Chronicle revealed that during the day in question the victims, Joseph Amoley and one Azumah, in the company of five others, went to a popular bar in the town called ?Chief Bam-Bam? to enjoy themselves after going on march past in the town.

It was gathered that in the course of their merry making at the bar, the owner, one Mrs. Acheampong, asked the victims and their colleagues, to leave the bar immediately.

The boys were reported to have argued that since the bar regulations would not allow them to take their bottles that contained drinks away, they should be given the chance to finish drinking before leaving the bar.

Mrs. Acheampong was reported to have turned down this request and instead invited the soldiers, who were also in the bar enjoying themselves, to come and drive the revelers away.

In the attempt to drive away the boys, the soldiers, who reportedly called in re-enforcement, used the butt of their guns to hit their victims several times and succeeded in opening a deep cut on the forehead of Joseph Amoley, which led to blood gushing out. Azumah was also reported to have lost a tooth.

The remaining five of the victims allegedly took to their heels with the various degrees of injuries they sustained from the soldiers? attack on them.

The Chronicle gathered that the family of Joseph Amoley, on realizing the critical condition of their son, took him to the Prestea police station where he was given a medical form to attend hospital at the Prestea Government Hospital, where he was subsequently admitted for prompt medical attention.

This reporter learnt that while Joseph Amoley was on admission, the soldiers, who were apparently not satisfied with the punishment they meted out to him earlier in the day, went to the hospital around 7:30pm to attack him again on his hospital bed, when the medical officer in charge of the hospital was not around.

The soldiers reportedly fired several warning shots to scare the nurses and other patients on admission before attacking their blood-soaked victim for the second time.

A medical report issued by the medical officer in charge of the Prestea Government Hospital and sighted by The Chronicle confirmed the story. ?Physically assaulted by some soldiers first at the hotel in town and secondly at the hospital premises,? Dr. Kennedy Azantilov, the medical officer wrote in his report.

According to the report, which was issued on March 8, 2004 there were also deep lacerations on the scalp, contusion with sub-conjunctival hemorrhage of the right eye. The report also indicated that the victim was admitted on March 6, 2004.

A source close to the Wassa West district chief executive, Mr. Emmanuel Kwesi Ayensu, confirmed that a report of the alleged assault by the soldiers had been reported to him.

The source, howeve,r said the DCE was yet to contact one Captain Odei, who is in charge of the soldiers, for their side of the story.

The Chronicle also learnt, at the time of filing this report, that a report about the alleged assault was on the way to the regional minister, Mr. Joseph Boahen Aidoo.