The wife of Eric Kojo Duah left their family home at Buduburam hours after her husband allegedly played a key role in the murder of two police officers at Kasoa last Wednesday.
Intelligence led to her arrest at her hideout at Teshie, a suburb of Accra. She was then whisked to the CID headquarters and upon interrogation she gave out information leading to her fugitive husband’s whereabouts hours later.
The arrest happened in a coordinated special task exercise by the police. Duah was heading towards the Volta region before being arrested at the Atimpoku bridge in a black Golf car with registration number GW 5972 – 18. He was then taken to the police headquarters.
BNI Cells
Duah has been moved to the cells of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI).
State-owned Daily Graphic reports on Monday, Duah together with three other suspected accomplices will be taken to the crime scene to re-enact the act leading to the death of the two law enforcers.
The suspects allegedly shot Sgt Dzamesi and L/Corporal Awal, both attached to the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service at Kasoa, who were on task force duties on the Kasoa-Winneba highway.
The suspects, who were using an unregistered Toyota Camry vehicle and said to be driving recklessly, shot the unarmed policemen after refusing to stop when the security officers signalled them to do so.
Duah’s pistol was found in the abandoned Toyota Camry and the Police Administration declared a manhunt operation aimed at getting the suspected killer(s) arrested.
Three other accomplices identified as Ibrahim Zakaria, Issac Amissah and Dominic Commey are also behind bars for shooting the two police officers in the line of duty.
Disguise uncovered
When he was arrested, Duah had a plaster on the left side of his face, possibly to disguise himself, and was travelling on a black Golf saloon car, with registration number GW 5972 – 18, which was heading towards the Volta Region.
Sources close to the police told the Daily Graphic that he was trying to escape to neighbouring Togo, from where his wife is said to hail.
They indicated that he was picked up by the police who were on duty on routine road checks but who had received a signal and the description of the vehicle travelling on that route.
According to the sources, Duah was very nervous when the vehicle in which he was travelling was stopped and the police approached him.
About the suspect
Duah is suspected to be a member of a group of notorious land guards who terrorise landowners and potential landowners in the Gomoa area, as well as Kasoa and its environs.
He is also known to engage in commercial activities by operating a shop where he deals in motorcycles and their spare parts near Buduburam.
His arrest has been attributed to intelligence operation that identified him and gave his exact description and that of the car he was using.
Statement
A press statement signed by the Director General of the Public Affairs Directorate of the Ghana Police Service, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr David Eklu, confirmed the arrest.
It said Duah, who is the prime suspect in the Buduburam shooting incident that led to the death of the two policemen, was arrested in the early hours of August 31, 2019.
Assurances at burial
Speaking during the burial ceremony of Mohammed in Kumasi on Friday, Ghana’s vice president Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia said he has confidence in the police to bring closure to the case.
“I have full confidence in the IGP and his men to work hard to bring the perpetrators of this dastardly act to book. We are going to go after the attackers,” Dr. Bawumia assured.
He added: “In this particular case, three persons were arrested a few hours after the incident and one of the suspects is on the run. Those who have been arrested will face the full rigours of the law and those still on the run will be relentlessly pursued. They can run but they cannot hide. A reward of GHC 10,000 has been announced for the arrest of the person on the run. Insha Allah we will get all of them.”
Dr. Bawumia promised the government will equip the police to discharge their duties without fear, assuring them that personnel of the MTTD will now be armed.
“In the last month 5 unarmed police officers have been killed by criminals in the line of duty. This is unacceptable and the government will not sit down for this to continue. Henceforth all officers of the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) will now be armed to ensure their protection. Also all police officers who go on “outside duties” will now be armed with weapons, bullet proof vests and helmets to be able to protect themselves.
“Thankfully, just this week, 4500 bullet proof vests have been delivered to the Police to help stem these unfortunate incidents. I urge police officers to wear the bullet proof vests and not say that they are uncomfortable to wear. Other logistical items have been delivered to the Police including non-lethal weapons. Government will continue to support the Police and more logistics will be delivered soon. We must protect our police for them to be able to protect us.
“We are retooling the Service and Government has delivered 567 vehicles to the Police service since 2017. We have also given clearance for the recruitment of 4000 officers into the Service to boost the numbers,” he said.
Dr. Bawumia has appealed to the general public to support the police “to enable them to effectively discharge their mandate.”
“They deserve our support. Whilst we are sleeping in our homes they continue to protect us at the risk of their own lives. Once again, our hearts are with you, the family and we pledge government’s support during this moment,” he stressed.
Police killings
This brings to five—the number of police officers gruesomely murdered in the last 30 days.
On July 30, 2019, Corporal Agatha Nana Nabin with the Northern Regional Police Command was shot dead at a police checkpoint on the Tamale-Kumbungu road in the Sagnarigu District.
The report is that armed and masked men in a grey saloon car discharged their weapons after being stopped at the check-point.
The killers took away two rifles belonging to the deceased and her colleague who escaped.
Some “persons of interest” are standing trial in connection with the incident.
Corporal Bernard Antwi, 37, was attached to Manso Nkwanta Divisional Command in the Ashanti region.
His was found dead after working hours at Manso Abodom in the Amansie West District of the region on August 19, 2019.
Police are hunting for a key suspect as they interrogate three others as part of its investigations.
In less than 24 hours, another officer was also found dead while on duty at Akim-Swedru in the Eastern Region.
Lance Corporal Alhassan Asare has since been buried as police continue investigations.
Source: Daily Mail GH
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