Kukurantumi Police Station closed down after youth attack
The Eastern Regional Police Command has withdrawn all personnel from Kukurantumi and officially closed down the police station.
This follows attacks on the Kukurantumi Police Station by some youth of the town.
In a statement issued last Saturday, the police said preliminary investigations revealed that, earlier that morning, some youth in Kukurantumi had attacked the police station and barracks with stones, clubs, and other implements.
They also attempted to set the building on fire following the death of a suspect, Bright Kena, also known as D-ball, who was in police custody.
The suspect had been arrested for a case of unlawful entry and stealing and was on admission at the Community Hospital, Kukurantumi.
The statement further said a police reinforcement team that was called in managed to restore calm, law and order.
Investigations
The command has engaged the deceased's family and other community leaders and assured them of a thorough investigation into the matter.
“Meanwhile, the Police Professional Standards Bureau and the Criminal Investigations Department have commenced investigations into the circumstances surrounding the death of the suspect,” it said.
The statement added that video footage of the attack on the police station was being reviewed and that the perpetrators would be identified, arrested and brought to justice.
“The command would like to, once again, urge the public to use lawful means to resolve issues instead of resorting to violence,” the police added.
Background
The unrest began after residents accused a police officer at the Kukurantumi Station of beating the suspect arrested during a swoop in which substances suspected to be marijuana were seized.
Last Saturday, the angry youth besieged the station, demanding answers, forcing officers on duty to flee as the crowd vandalised property.
Two police officers reportedly sustained injuries, while a vehicle was badly damaged.
Reinforcement teams from the Ghana Police Service and National Security in Koforidua were deployed to restore order.
