DCOP Kofi Boakye, Ashanti Regional Police Commander, has indicated that the police are equal to its mandate of maintaining law and order.

He has cautioned that those who think they can take the law into their hands to rethink and revise their notes, because the police are more determined and committed to use the equipment at their disposal to protect lives and properties.

The Police Commander said those who take the law into their own hands could force the police to use their own power on them, a situation, he said, would not augur well for the peace and the stability of the country in this election year.

He was speaking at the routine monthly commanding parade, during which personnel from the various districts and divisional commands converged and ascertained shortfalls and corrected some of the mistakes committed by some of the personnel, and the way forward.

DCOP Boakye commended the personnel for their commitment in discharging their duties, especially at Tafo, in saving lives and properties.

He reiterated that many people, including innocent ones, would have died in case the police made an arrest or shoot on the spot, adding that the police arrested about 40 people during the riot at Tafo to keep the area calm, but later granted them bail to open their investigation.

The Police Chief explained that such a position by the police did not mean they had left them off the hook and were free.

He said the police would rely on videos taken by the police themselves and the media to identify the real perpetrators, who were active participants in the rioting part, and that those who were involved would be arrested to face the law in the face of the damages caused.

”Commander One”, as he is affectionately called by his admirers, also commended the military for their prompt response as part of the security operation in assisting the police to control the youth.

He disclosed that the police would always ensure that there is peace and order, but challenged Nananom and the Mayor of Kumasi, who are the owners of the land, to ensure that they put things in order for healthy co-existence and lasting peace to prevail in the area.