General News of Thursday, 6 September 2018

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Funeral held for alleged armed robbers killed by Police in Kumasi

Several sympathisers turned up at the burial ceremony of the four men at Asawasi play videoSeveral sympathisers turned up at the burial ceremony of the four men at Asawasi

The remains of the four Zongo men who were shot and killed by police in Kumasi have been buried at old Tafo cemetery near Kumasi in the Ashanti region.

The victims include Musah Seidu, Mohammed Bashir Mush, Mohammed Kamal and Baba Bont

The Islamic prayer for the dead was observed at the Kumasi central mosque where hundreds of Muslim gathered to say their words to them.

Last Saturday, one of the seven people killed, Abdul-Hanan Abdul-Bashir was buried at same burial grounds following the family's decision to lay him to rest.

The ceremony was conducted amidst heavy security presence to curtail any unfortunate event.

Ghanaweb checks reveal the remaining two bodies would be buried on Sunday.

Many of the sympathizers of the victims are yet to come to terms with the killing but are encouraged to reflect over the mercy of Allah and allow due process to be completed.

background

The seven were allegedly mistaken by the police for members of an eight-man armed robbery gang who had earlier attacked a sprinter bus and shot dead a police officer at Ayirebikrom near Manso Nkwanta in the Amasie West District of the region. The Ashanti regional police command said the seven were killed in a shootout.

They were alleged to have opened fire on the police when they attempted to attack a Chinese national. Just when the Asawasi protest was about to turn chaotic, the Manhyia Divisional Police Command arrived on the scene to restore calm.

The acting Chief of the Sarkin Zongo (predominantly Hausa-speaking community) in Kumasi, Ahmed Rufai Alao, in a statement stated the seven were well-known members of their community. The statement added that they [Zongo authorities] are liaising with the families of the deceased to find ways to seek redress the right way.



The Ashanti Regional Minister, Hon. Simon Osei-Mensah inaugurated a five-member committee to independently investigate the circumstances that led to the killing of seven suspected robbers at Manso Nkwanta