Tamale Police open fire on driver, three others hurt by stray bullets

Police personnel from the Northern Regional headquarters today Sunday targeted and shot at a vehicle driver who was on board with his friends.

Three other persons were also hurt by stray bullets in the process.

The victim, driving an unregistered vehicle was shot by the armed police officers for claims of refusing to adhere to their directives to stop.

An occupant of the vehicle who went unhurt, Musah Nasir told Soireenews that the police chased them to stop but because they didn't know why they speed off to the Lamasheigu Naa Chief palace to intervene.

According to him, they made the move to seek refuge at the Lamasheigu Naa palace.

He said, at the palace when the victim tried running into the palace, the police shot him at the waist.

This, therefore, sparked the youth of the area to confront the police which resulted in a standoff between the Police and the youth.

However, the police officer who shot the young man was manhandled by some youth who witness the incident, they managed to get hold of him when his colleagues speed off with the police vehicle.

The Paramount Chief of Lamasheigu, Nyeb Ziblim Alhassan said, he had to intervene before the police officer was spared by the police.

He condemned the police action and charged the Ghana police service to use appropriate means to sanction the police officer.

"The Police acted irresponsibly and unprofessionally, I don't shoot persons driving an unregistered vehicle is allowed in the police service, they need to be trained very well by their superiors to prevent future occurrence, if not my immediate intervention the youth might have killed him".

According to him, per the customs and tradition of Dagbon, when you’re chasing someone for whatever reason and the person runs to a chief palace, you are barred to use force at that moment. 

This according to him, when the person carries out the intended act it’s regarded as gross disrespect to the palace and the Chief.

Naa Ziblim however appealed to residents of Lamasheigu to remain calm for the police to carry out investigations.