The Upper West Region in the past few years have been thrown to shock and dismay as to the rate of attacks and criminal activities that resulted in several people losing their lives, though the Regional police command has been very proactive lately, little has been heard about measures or results of investigations carried out on the under listed cases recorded in the Upper West Region.
Residents of Upper West have urged the police to bring the culprits involved in the following developments to book.
Firstly: NDC chairman shot dead in Upper West region 2019
the National Democratic Congress (NDC) chairman for the Dafiama Bussie Issa Constituency, Mr. Poulabong Bayiilela Rachard aka Chairman Water was shot dead by an unidentified gang.
The incident occurred night of 8th May 2019 at Sagu, on the Wa-Tumu Road in the Upper West region.
According to close associates, the deceased was returning from a funeral when the sad incident happened.
Secondly: Jirapa constituency was left in utmost shock after the gruesome murder of a mobile money vendor and one other injured on Thursday, 21st May, 2020 at about 8 :30pm.
The victim was shot and his money was taken away.
Some Individuals in Jirapa including The National Democratic Congress condemned the development tagging the municipality as unsafe. The NDC in Jirapa added that Not too long ago(Before 21st May 2020), a tutor of the Jirapa Community Health Nurses Training School was robbed of a sum of Gh¢12,500.00 along the Duori-Jirapa Road.
Also, a man was shot thrice along the Bachoglo-Jeffiri Road. Fortunately, the victim survived after seeking medical services at the St Joseph Hospital.
As if these are not enough, a woman was physically brutalized with a Cutlass and on top of that was raped around a community called Nyenni. This development has created so much insecurity especially for women.
Thirdly: On the 21st of February 2019
Citi FM’s Latif Mahama was on Thursday night robbed at gunpoint close to Pet Vero in the Wa Municipality of the Upper West Region.
The journalist who was in the company of some National Democratic Congress (NDC)
executives including the Nadowli-Kaleo Constituency Secretary and the Regional Youth Organiser Nicodemus N.B Dery, were said to have been attacked at a drinking spot.
According to snippets of information gathered by MyNewsGh.com, the robbers armed with AK47 assault rifles stormed the place and asked their victims to comply with their demands or be shot to death.
They then demanded money, mobile phones and other expensive items in possession of the terrified victims who readily complied to save themselves from the wrath of the gun-wielding bandits. Police sources reveal that the robbers numbering two asked them to lay on the floor while they searched them to retrieve whatever was in their possession and succeeded in making away with total cash of GH¢10,000 mobile phones.
Fourthly: Armed Robbers Attack Wa West DCE, Others.
Armed robbers on 13 NOVEMBER 2020 attacked and robbed the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Wa West, Mr Edward Laabiir Sabo, his entourage, and other passengers.
The robbers also took away unspecified amount of money, phones and other items after holding their victims hostage for three hours.
The robbers, who encamped at Chogsiealong on the Ga-Wechiau road, stopped road users, including the DCE and members of the Wa West District Assembly,who were on their way to a traditional council meeting at Wechiau.
The DCE said that he and the entourage inspected the robbery scene and alerted the police to increase police surveillance along the stretch.
Mr Sabo indicated that he left the police after ensuring that there were enough police to protect the traders travelling on the road,and started the journey to Wechiau, using the Ga-Wechaiu road.
The DCE narrated that at the Chogsie-Kandew Junction, his car was stopped by two men,who were wielding AK47 guns, and directed the driver to move into the bush.
“I asked the driver if he could reverse because the men who were stopping us were quite far ahead.But there were two armed men behind the last vehicle with two others each on the right and left sides of the vehicle respectively, so we had to follow the direction into the bush”, he said.
Fifthly,
Regional Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party, Mr Bukari was on 8th of November 2020 shot by unknown gun men around Bulingin, when he was on his way to a campaign rally at Kangba.
Mr Bukari, who was travelling with three other passengers, sustained three gunshot wounds at his back and was rushed to the Upper West Regional Hospital where he was treated and discharged.
Furthermore, young man believed to be in his 30s who was suspected to have been attacked, beaten and both hands and legs tied by unidentified assailants was confirmed dead on 17th February 2021.
The motionless body of the young man Kojo Kunta Ogyam from Dabo in the Wa West District was dumped by the roadside directly opposite the offices of Info Radio at Kpaguri, a suburb of Wa.
An eyewitness who reported the sad incident to the staff of info radio at about 6:40 am noted that he saw the body when he came to open his shop at the same location.
Onlookers at the crime scene identified the victim as ‘Ogyam’ who was a driver to the Matron of Wa Technical Institute in Wa.
The body was picked by the Upper West Regional Police CID and deposited at the Wa Municipal Hospital Mortuary where he was confirmed dead.
The police said they have begun investigations into the circumstances that led to the unsightly scene, and to bring the perpetrators to book
Also, in August 2020, robbers stormed Takpo in the Nadowli-Kaleo District, Killing a Mobile Money Vendor by Name Miluu .
A suspect by Name Ebaldo Adama was arrested to lead with investigations. The Paramount Chief of Takpo , Naa Alexander Nanga II , Commented on the development asking for a police Post for the Community abandoned since 2005 to be completed in order to scare miscreants from perpetuating their acts.
Last but not the least, in May 2020, The Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, Amidu Chinia Issahaku had been attacked by unknown armed men in the regional capital, Wa.
Mr. Chinia was taking an evening walk in front of his house around 7:00pm on Thursday when two men on a motorbike approached and allegedly inflicted cutlass wounds on him without uttering a word.
The Upper West Regional Police Command is yet to get the Perpetuators of the act.
Furthermore, On the 31st of December 2021, a Young man within his mid 30’s was shot dead on the Kaleo Loho Stretch, he was in a black toyota car with Registration number AS-2540-12 when the incident happened, he was resident of Wapaani and was travelling from Wa Towards Kaleo When the Issue occured.
Lastly, on 20th January 2022
The Assembly member of Kambali electoral area, Hon Adams Masahudu has alleged that, the dead body of the young man found at Kambali behind Maxisco Spot annex is a suspected criminal.
According to him, Bashit (deceased) is a known person in the community that one cannot argue he is not far from criminal activities.
He further indicated that, the deep sharp cuts at his lower limps and fingers are suspected cutlass and knife wounds.
The body of the deceased was conveyed to the municipal hospital by the police for further investigations.
Though crime rate has dropped significantly in the Region, people still reflect back to the past and call for Justice.
Source: Upperwestmedia.net