Kwahu Melee Caused By Failed Attempt to Lynch Murder Suspect – Police

The Ghana Police Service in a detailed account of the recent happenings in Kwahu has revealed the melee resulted from a foiled attempt to lynch a murder suspect by some community folks on February 4.

In an update, the police said 46 more suspects had been arrested in connection to the disturbances which saw the Bepong Chiefs Palace and other nearby houses damaged and seven persons including five police officers injured.

Police properties including a vehicle and six motorbikes were also vandalized as well as other privately owned vehicles, the police said.

Six of those arrested this morning got cleared while the remaining forty were found to have a hand in the disturbances and have thus been kept in police custody.

The police on Sunday arrested 25 persons for their alleged connection to the incident. The number of arrests now stands at 71.

The suspects are currently being processed for court.

Cause

The statement from the police said their outfit received a call to pick up a murder suspect identified as Kwasi Nyarko from the Palace of the Chief of Bepong on February 4.

The said Kwasi had been arrested by some community members and sent to the Bepong Chiefs Palace awaiting the arrival of the Police.

Meanwhile, “some members of the community, including those in Police custody, who had heard about the arrest of suspect Kwasi Nyarko had besieged the palace in the hopes of lynching the suspect. However, when the Police prevented them from lynching the suspect, they rather attacked the Police throwing stones and other implements at them”.

It said a police reinforcement team was deployed to restore calm.