Agbogba: Family Demands Justice After Police ‘Wrongfully’ Kill Man

The family of 28-year-old Emmanuel Amofa, who was shot dead by the police at Agbogba in Accra last Sunday say they want the officers involved investigated and punished.

The family is incensed by reports that their son was shot because he is an armed robber.

According to reports, Emmanuel was hanging out with his friends at a pub after they had observed the one-week celebration of the death of their peer.

The police patrol team, upon their arrival at the scene, alleged that one of them was wielding a gun.

Emmanuel’s friends then bolted, leaving him behind as the police allegedly assaulted him several times.

He scaled a wall into a house across the road in an attempt to escape.

He was however chased by the police, who shot at him several times. He was eventually hit by a bullet and his body was dragged out of the house.

“I woke up early to sweep the compound before daybreak. At once, I heard several gunshots. Then I heard the police officer asking me to get inside. At that point, I heard the guy scream ‘I am dying I am dying’. If I were around this area [where he was shot] I am sure they would have shot me,” the caretaker of the house narrated to Citi News.

He expressed anger at the police for failing to return to his house to explain what had happened or offer him an apology while no officers had been there since the shooting to process the scene.

“I thought that maybe if day breaks, they will come and explain things or even ask questions about the guy. But no one has been here,” he fumed.

The family suspects attempts by the police to cover up and are demanding justice.

“When we were shown his body, you could tell he has been assaulted. There was little change in his form just that his head looked swollen. From the story that has been put out there by the police, you can clearly see the police has something to hide. We as a family of the deceased are not going to lay this matter to rest until the perpetrators are brought to book,” Emmanuel’s elder brother vowed.

“We the family are traumatized,” the deceased’s sister said.

“I have four brothers. My dad was expecting my brothers to carry his coffin – two in front, two behind. But look at us,” she lamented.

She reiterated the vow to get justice no matter what, stating that they “are not going to rest, trust me even if it will take my last blood.”

The father of the deceased was equally inconsolable. Peering into the sky as if to search for his dead soon, he said; “I am really bereft of a suitable way of expressing my emotion. I am so devastated it seems the world around me has crumbled.”

“I am not worried about his death but if the boy had actually stolen something or gone on an armed robbery mission then, I will have no query about it. One man can hardly defeat a dozen. Assuming that you caught him, beat him up, why shoot him? Why shoot him?” he questioned repeatedly.

Emmanuel’s father blamed the Inspector General of Police (IGP) David Asante Apeatu for what he describes as the irresponsible conduct of the police.