3 people hit by stray bullets in Sogakofe protest

A protest by residents of Sogakofe in the South Tongu District of the Volta Region, turned bloody when stray bullets hit three people, Monday.

According to sources, the police in an attempt to disperse the angry residents who besieged the police station and were pelting stones at them fired warning shots.

A stray bullet allegedly from the gun of the District Commander, Supt Michael Zah, hit three people in the leg, arm and back, reports Fred Quame Asare.

The late Marcus Mawutor Azahli

Two of the casualties are currently on admission at the District Hospital in Sogakofe while one has been taken to the Comboni Hospital. They are all said to be responding to treatment.

Earlier Monday morning, the residents took to the streets to protest the Volta Regional Minister, Dr Archibald Yao Letsa’s refusal to meet them and address their concerns.

They have been complaining about the increasing spate of armed robbery incidents in the South Tongu District.

They didn’t only block the Sogakofe-Accra highway but also burnt tyres to register their displeasure.

A joint military-police team managed to control and scare away the crowd to restore calm in the town.

The District Security Council, Dr Archibald Letsa and opinion leaders are locked up in a crunch meeting to find a solution.

Residents of Sogakofe have given the police a three-day ultimatum to arrest a group of armed robbers who shot and killed one of their own or face their wrath.

The residents who are terrified following a series of armed robbery incidents called for an intensified police visibility and patrol to help the curb the increasing spate of crime in the South Tongu District.

The late Marcus Mawutor Azahli and his family

The residents who staged a protest on Sunday morning and blocked the Sogakofe-Accra highway, following the murder the Sogakofe South Assembly Member, Marcus Mawutor Azahli.

They are promising worse actions should the police fail to bring the assailants to book.

Mr Azahli, a mobile money merchant in Sogakofe, was shot and stabbed to death at his residence, while some unknown amount of money contained in a save was stolen.

His wife sustained an injury from a knock on her head with a gun barrel and was stabbed on the shoulder, while their child was shot at.