Azorka Boys Target Zoomlion, Metro Mass

EVEN BEFORE the outcome of the 2008 presidential run-off could be determined, some youth believed to be National Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters in the Tamale metropolis have allegedly targeted some organisations to head if the New Patriotic Party (NPP) loses the December 28 run-off.

A team of unidentified youth believed to be ‘Azorka and Aluta Boys’, a notorious gang in the region, was reported to have stormed the offices of Metro Mass Transit (MMT) demanding its immediate closure and all the keys to the buses.

Workers of the MMT in the region are reportedly under siege and in perpetual fear following the action of the group.

The action of the youth was allegedly informed by an announcement by the leadership of the NDC that the party was far ahead of the NPP in the first round of the polls and was confident that it would convincingly win the run-off on December 28.

An employee of MMT who spoke on condition of anonymity said the youth, numbering about 20 were heavily armed and threatened security personnel at the MMT offices that day.

According to the source, immediately they arrived at the scene they were heard shouting “our party the NDC has won, so the Metro Mass Transit is now our property”.

He disclosed that those on duty feared for their lives and ran away as they could not tell the next line of action of the youth.

“At the moment we are afraid because we do not know what their plans are after the run-off,” he said.

In a related development Mohammed Aboagye, an NDC youth activist was alleged to have informed the wife of the regional manager of Zoomlion, who is currently on pilgrimage to Mecca, to tell her husband on his return that he (Aboagye) would take over the management of the company.

When DAILY GUIDE contacted Aboagye, he denied the claim and distanced himself from such actions.

“Zoomlion I know is privately owned, I cannot and would not do that,” Aboagye stated.

According to him this was a ploy by political opponents to make him unpopular and turn his party folks against him.

Meanwhile Mr. Sofu Awudu alias Azorka, leader of the ‘Azorka Boys’ has also distanced himself from the allegation.

“I don’t even know where Metro Mass office is and I don’t have any business there. Moreover, the company belongs to the government and not any party,” he said. Azorka accused especially some NDC youth of using his name to cause havoc and perpetuate crime in the metropolis and appealed to people to beware of such miscreants.

The Regional Manager of MMT, Mr. Malik Ibrahim, confirmed the incident in an interview, and reiterated that it was one of the many threats received by the company in the metropolis even before the general elections.

Mr. Ibrahim hinted that he was not in the office at the time of the said raid but said the matter had been reported to the police.