6 Shot, 2 Killed In Ejura Protests

A violent clash between demonstrators and a joint military and police team at Ejura, in the Ashanti Region on Tuesday, has resulted in the death of two people and hundreds injured.

Eye witnesses said the demonstrators pelted stones at the security agents after Ibrahim Mohammed aka ‘Kaaka’, a late social media activist, was buried at the Ejura Cemetery.

The joint military and police team also fired back at the demonstrators and in the process six of the demonstrators were hit by gunshots. Two of them died at the scene.

According to eyewitnesses reports, the Ejura Township was very calm when the people were sending Kaaka’s corpse to the cemetery on Tuesday morning for his interment.

But the people’s mood changed suddenly after the burial ceremony as they started to destroy any New Patriotic Party (NPP) billboard or item in the community.

The angry rioters hurled stones at police personnel, who have been tasked to ensure law and order in Ejura. The police were forced to leave the scene.

The rioters said they were demanding justice for the murdered Kaaka.

Few minutes later, a joint military and police team also arrived at the scene and they fired series of gunshots, but unfortunately six people (all males) were hit by bullets.

Reports indicated that two of those that were shot gave up the ghost shortly and the four others, who are in critical conditions, have been hospitalized.

Two Suspects Grabbed

Meanwhile, the police have announced that two people, who they suspect to have a hand in the murder of Saaka, have been apprehended and they are being questioned.

The suspects are Ibrahim Issaka and Fuseini Alhassan. The police said the two suspects were arrested following police intelligence around 10:45pm on Monday.

The Ashanti Regional Police PRO, ASP Godwin Ahianyo, addressing the media, said eye witnesses accounts indicated that Saaka was ambushed in front of his house.

According to him, police preliminary investigations have revealed that Saaka was returning home on a motorbike on Sunday around 1:30am when he met his untimely death.

He said police have gathered that Saaka was a journalist and a member of the Fix the Country Movement so they would investigate to see if his death has something to do with his work.

Ejurahene’s Appeal

Meanwhile, the Chief of Ejura, Barimma Osei Hwedie II, earlier on Tuesday morning, had charged youth of Ejura to exercise patience to help ensure law and order.

He said the police have assured to do whatever they can to help apprehend the killers of Saaka to face prosecution therefore the Ejura residents should remain calm.

Saaka, a hard critic of the NPP government, it would be recalled, was ambushed and killed by some unknown assailants whilst returning home on Sunday dawn.

His shocking death sparked troubles in the Ejura Township as the charged youth openly burnt car tyres and vowed to spill human blood in protest of the death of their idol.

At the time the story was being filed on Tuesday evening, calm had returned at Ejura. But the security agents were on high alert in order not to be taken unaware by anybody.