Walewale police investigate alleged military brutality on residents

The West Mamprusi Municipal Police Command has started an investigation into the alleged military brutality in Walewale in the North East Region.

Military personnel are said to have stormed homes, shops and streets to assault individuals indiscriminately, leaving several persons injured and the entire community in shock.

Many residents in the town sustained injuries after the alleged military brutality last Tuesday afternoon.

Some youths, who were resting under a pavilion they called ‘Parliament’, were not spared the unexplained assault. Some of the victims are currently receiving treatment at the hospital.

Recounting their harrowing experiences, some of the victims said the soldiers in armoured vehicles raided shops and gathering places, forcing people to lie on the ground and assaulted them with wires and gun butts.

A victim, Saaka Yakubu, said, “I was in my shop when they stormed there and ordered me to lie on the floor and started beating me, still don’t know why they beat me.”

Eyewitness account

It is not clear what might have triggered the rampage. However, the Daily Graphic gathered that the incident was linked to the burning of a stationary truck within the town.

A Walewale-based journalist, Dokurugu Alhassan, who witnessed the incident, said the truck was transporting vegetables from the Bolgatanga direction towards Kumasi when it developed an electrical fault and caught fire in Walewale.

He said the soldiers got wind of the information and reportedly stormed the scene, thinking it was in connection with the ongoing Bawku conflict.

“The truck developed an electrical fault and mechanics were working on it, and it suddenly caught fire. It has nothing to do with the Bawku conflict,” Mr Alhassan stated.
 

Condemnation 

Reacting to the incident, the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Walewale Constituency, Dr Tia Abdul-Kabiru Mahama, condemned the alleged brutality and called for an immediate investigation to uncover the facts and hold those responsible accountable.

“It is unacceptable for military personnel to take the law into their own hands and subject innocent residents to such inhumane treatment.

“I demand a swift and thorough investigation to ensure justice for the victims and restore calm to the community,” Dr Tia Mahama said.

Writer’s email: mohammed.fugu@graphic.com.gh