Nima highway shooting victim in critical condition

A forex bureau operator is in critical but stable condition at the Police Hospital after he had been shot by some unidentified assailants on the Kanda Highway in Accra while he was on his way home.

The victim, identified as Awudu Mohammed, 39, was shot in the right and the left chest and in both thighs.

It is believed the unidentified assailants trailed Mohammed from his forex bureau at Ridge and shot him at a spot on the Kanda Highway near the Community Library.

Eyewitnesses said the incident happened so quickly, and that the unidentified assailants, who were riding two unregistered motorbikes, had covered their faces with their helmets to hide their identities.

“It was still rush hour and so the traffic was heavy and the victim was helpless, while most drivers were so scared to get out of their vehicles to intervene, for fear of being attacked too,” an eyewitness said.

Incident

The incident happened about 7:30 p.m. and distress calls by some eyewitnesses led the Police National Control Room to alert the police patrol team of the Kotobabi District Police Station, which arrived on the scene shortly after.

Policemen took the victim to the Police Hospital in Accra, where he has been responding to treatment.

Later, the police towed the victim’s vehicle to the Motor Transport and Traffic Department (MTTD) at the Nima Police Station.

The Nima District Police Command has recorded the case as an attempted murder.

Police sources, however, could not confirm if the victim was robbed of any possession.

When contacted, the Deputy Public Relations Officer of the Accra Regional Police Command, Inspector Bright Kwabena Danso, confirmed the incident and said the police were yet to take a statement from the victim.

He said the police had launched a manhunt for the unidentified assailants and called on the public, especially eyewitnesses, to assist the police with relevant information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects.

Eyewitness

A friend of the victim’s, Alhaji Isaaka Nettey, who arrived at the scene a few minutes after Awudu had been shot, said he had closed from work and was on his way home from Tema when he saw a crowd on the Kanda Highway, a few meters away from the main traffic light, and decided to park his car and find out what was happening.

He said when he drew closer, he found out that it was his SHS mate, Awudu, who had been shot, and when the police took Awudu to the Police Hospital, he followed up there.

Alhaji Nettey said he was happy his friend was alive and hoped the assailants would be arrested.

As of 10 a.m. yesterday, a visit to the Police Hospital revealed that some pellets had been removed from the wounds sustained by the victim and he was being prepared for surgery.

A number of his family members and friends, including Alhaji Nettey, were at the hospital.