Police justify murder of female passenger near Pwalugu

File photo of some police officers

Police in the Upper East Region justified the killing of a female passenger by officers manning a checkpoint a few miles past Pwalugu.

Laadi Wunia, who was the passenger, was reportedly shot in the waist and arm after the pilot ignored a police instruction to stop. She was rushed to Bolgatanga hospital where her relatives told Bolgatanga-based Dreamz Fm that she was released with the bullets still in her body.

Recounting the incident, the victim’s brother, Godwin Wuni, said his sister was offered the ride when work closed on Tuesday night and upon reaching the police checkpoint they were arrested by officers who inquired about their riding helmets.

He explained that the origin of the conversation was an altercation with one of the officers who had threatened to shoot them if they obeyed another officer’s instruction to surrender to their destination.

“This particular officer followed through on his threat and fired at them when they started to move,” he said.

However, Upper East Region Police Command Public Relations Officer ASP David Fianko Okyere said the runners instead crashed into the metal barricades at the checkpoint and did not make it through. to stop, which is why the shot was fired because the riders were either committing a crime or about to commit a crime.

“The incident has to do with suspicion of criminal movement and an accident that occurred. While the police were on duty, they saw an oncoming motorcycle with a passenger. They crashed into the metal barricade that we used to block the road to stop and search.

“When they crashed into the barrier, the motorcyclist managed to escape and the police on duty suspected them of being criminal elements who were about to commit a crime somewhere. The police decided to immobilize them and a shot was fired which unfortunately hit the passenger who happens to be a lady. Immediately the victim was rushed to the regional hospital where she is currently responding very well to treatment,” the ASP said. Fianko Okyere on Bolgatanga-based Dreamz Fm monitored by Mynewsgh.com.

The police PRO further explained that it was not out of place that the shot was fired in a situation where law enforcement officers had reason to suspect that the victims were committing a crime.

“The fact is that some people when they hear the shot they stop for fear of being hit by the gun and it’s also not bad if we have a direct shot aimed at immobilizing an individual suspected of committing or about to commit a violent crime and therefore a shot was fired. The investigation was launched into the matter immediately after the incident,” he added.