A policeman & civilian shot in attempt to effect arrest

Dagbiriboari (N/R), July 15, GNA - Four men who allegedly shot two people, including a Police Constable at Dagbiriboari, in the Northern Region, have been arrested and granted police enquiry bail. The injured, Mr Tia Mumuni and the policeman whose name was withheld were rushed to the Nalerigu Baptist Hospital, where they were treated and discharged.

The suspects are Dakurigu Samare, Bugri Dakurigu, Charles Yidana and Mahama Achiri.

According to the District Police Commander, Superintendent Ben Atadana, on February 2, this year, a 46-year old woman, Alima Zakari, was accused of killing one Mr Achiri Danaba 50, through witchcraft. The accused persons who were irritated by the alleged behaviour of Alima, burnt down her house and in the process destroyed property estimated at 11.5 million cedis.

Supt Atadana said the Constable and Mumuni were sent to effect the arrest of the suspects but they met resistance from the youth, who mounted barricade at the outskirts of the village.

The police officer said the youth threw stones and fired at them and in the process wounded Mumuni in the hand and the Constable in the leg.

Supt. Atadana advised the community to desist from accusing people of witchcraft, adding that such allegations could not be justified and there is no way they could prove the allegations." He cautioned that any person or group of persons who took the law into their own hands to disturb the peace in the area would have themselves to blame.

Supt Atadana appealed to the chiefs to advise their subjects against such practices because they tend to inflame passions and bring about ethnic conflicts.