Cops Slap Chief …Over Illegal Chainsaw Operators

The Krontihene of Nwomoasi, a suburb of Atebubu, Nana Kwame Tutu, has accused some police officers at the Atebubu District Police Command of assaulting him for seizing timber from illegal chainsaw operators.

Nana Kwame Tutu, narrating his ordeal on Adom TV morning show Badwam said his outfit had received a tip-off that some men had stormed the forest and were operating illegally.

“I, therefore, asked some youth of the town to go and seize the timber for the community,” he explained.

Nana Kwame Tutu indicated that just after the youth was about to convey the timber to the community, some unidentified police officers from stormed the forest, insisting they had orders to send the timber to Atebubu.

The police action did not go down well with the Krontihene thereby resulting in a misunderstanding between him and the police officers.

Nana Kwame Tutu in the process of preventing the police from taking the timber to Atebubu was attacked by the policemen.

“When I tried stopping them, the police officers attacked me and slapped me, making me unconscious. I really didn’t understand their actions. They even dragged me on the floor and tore my attire. I later reported the matter to the police where medical forms were issued to me to go to a prang health centre for treatment” he narrated.

But in a quick rebuttal, Atebubu District police commander, Chief Supt. Bright Boafo said his men only went there to help arrest the illegal chainsaw operators and didn’t go there to fight.

“My men only went there to cause the arrest of persons believed to be cutting down the trees. The chief was the first person to throw his hands and hit the police officers and so it could not be true that we attacked the Krontihene but investigations have commenced.” he said.