Police recover seized weapons, arrest nine after mob attack at Saawie

Police officers conducting enquiries at Saawie near Jirapa were attacked by a mob of about thirty youths on Friday, December 5, leaving three officers injured and four service weapons seized, police said on Sunday.

Nine suspects linked to the attack have been arrested and will be put before court, the Upper West Regional Police Command said in a statement issued on December 7.

One officer suffered a fractured arm and was referred to the Wa Regional Hospital for further medical care. Two other officers sustained injuries and were treated and discharged, the statement said.

The Upper West Regional Police Commander, DCOP Francis Yiribaare, led a reinforcement team to the community and evacuated the injured officers for medical care.

The team retrieved all four weapons, and efforts are ongoing to recover two missing magazines, the statement said.

The Regional Police Command condemned the attack and said steps are being taken to protect officers and law abiding residents.

The Command urged residents of Saawie and nearby communities within the Jirapa Municipality to assist investigators by providing information that could lead to the arrest of remaining suspects and the recovery of the outstanding magazines.

The statement did not state what enquiries the officers were conducting at the time of the attack.