A mob of about 500 people armed with stones and other weapons attacked the Nsuaem Police Station on Wednesday, demanding the release of a suspected child kidnapper.
The incident left seven people injured and forced authorities to temporarily close the station.
The Western Central Regional Police Command said calm had been restored after the violent scene, which saw the crowd block the Takoradi–Tarkwa highway, set tyres ablaze, and damage two vehicles, parts of the station building, and several impounded motorbikes.
In a statement issued on Thursday, October 30, 2025, Assistant Superintendent of Police Beatrice Turkson, Head of the Public Affairs Unit of the Western Central Region, said the confrontation began when about fifteen men, accompanied by two children aged seven and five, brought a suspect, 25-year-old Sulley Moses, to the station.
“They had spotted him by the roadside near Nivo Filling Station conversing with the children. They suspected that he intended to lure them to an unknown destination and, therefore, demanded police action,” the statement said.
According to the police, the suspect was detained after the children confirmed that he had forcibly held the hand of one of them as they attempted to walk away.
Not long after the detention, a large crowd gathered at the station demanding that the suspect be released. The mob blocked the Takoradi–Tarkwa highway, set tyres on fire, and threw stones at police officers on duty.
Police reinforcement teams, supported by military personnel, were deployed to disperse the crowd and bring the situation under control.
Three police officers and four civilians sustained injuries and were treated at the Nsuaem Government Hospital. One civilian was later referred to the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital for additional medical care.
The suspect has since been transferred to the Tarkwa Regional Headquarters for further investigation. All officers at the Nsuaem Police Station have been relocated to safety, and the facility remains temporarily closed.
ASP Turkson said the Western Central Regional Police Command strongly condemned the attack and assured the public that those responsible would be identified, arrested, and prosecuted.
The Nsuaem Police Station remains closed while authorities assess the damage and decide when normal operations can resume.
