Police Seize Pump-Action Gun from Teen in Ashanti
The Ashanti Regional Police Command has launched investigations into a violent confrontation between suspected illegal miners and police officers on patrol at Bepotenten Sukuum in the Amansie Central District. According to ACP Cephas Arthur, the Ashanti North Regional Police Commander, the incident occurred during a routine patrol when officers encountered a 15-year-old boy wielding a pump-action gun.
The police officers questioned the boy, seized the weapon, and directed him to inform the owner to produce the necessary documentation covering the firearm. However, the situation escalated when a group of young men, believed to be engaged in illegal mining activities, blocked the roadway and challenged the police, leading to a scuffle.
A service rifle belonging to one of the officers was forcibly taken, and in efforts to recover the weapon, the police fired warning shots, resulting in the death of one of the attackers and injuries to others. The seized service rifle was subsequently retrieved.
ACP Arthur defended the actions of the police officers, stating that they could not allow a civilian to possess a lethal weapon in a public space. He emphasized that the police only intended to disable the individual after he allegedly snatched a police firearm and attempted to flee.
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, has condemned the attack, describing it as unfortunate and urging the youth to avoid confronting the police directly. The police have assured the public that all individuals involved in the incident will be tracked down and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The incident highlights the ongoing efforts of the police to combat illegal mining and maintain law and order in the region.
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Author: Korkor Anumu
