and damage police vehicle

Agona Swedru, July 8, GNA - Angry residents of Gomoa Obuasi and Afransi who claimed they were dissatisfied with the way police have been handling internet fraud, "Sakawa", cases in the area went on rampage and attacked some police officers from the Swedru Divisional Police Command on official duty at Obuasi.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Osei Kwadwo, Deputy Superintendent of Police Philip Alleawobu, the Swedru Municipal Police Commander and Corporal Kwesi Nyamekye were at Obuasi Police station on Tuesday to transfer to Swedru four suspected "Sakawa" boys allegedly arrested at Gomoa Akwamu by the residents.

Briefing the Ghana News Agency at Agona Swedru Mr Osei Kwadwo said they received information from Gomoa Obuasi Police Station to arrange for the transfer of four suspects to Swedru due to lack of enough security at the station.

A vehicle and two police offi cers were dispatched to bring the suspects to Agona Swedru.

Later the Divisional Office received a message that the residents were preventing them from taking the four boys to Agona Swedru. As a result he and Mr Alleawobu hired a taxi to Obuasi to ascertain the situation but the angry residents, who had besieged the station, attacked them.

Mr Osei Kwadwo said the residents had besieged the station to demand the release of the suspects so that they would lynch them. He said the residents chased them with stones, missiles and other offensive weapons despite firing warning shots to disperse them. The mob later vandalized the police station and damaged the police vehicle that was dispatched for the exercise but they however managed to put the suspects and the police officers on the damaged police vehicle and drove to Agona Swedru. Mr Osei Kwadwo said Mr Alleawobu was taken hostage by the residents for four hours until a Good Samaritan rescued him. 08 July 09