IRATE YOUTH SHOOT COP AT NAKPANDURI (PAGE 3, MARCH 25, 2010)

AN attempt by the police to search a vehicle suspected to be carrying arms at the Nakpanduri Barrier in the Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo District of the Northern Region last Tuesday led to the shooting of a police officer.
The injured officer, whose name was not given for security reasons, sustained gunshot wounds on his back after he had been shot at by some irate youth in the area who attacked the police with guns.
The victim is currently receiving treatment at the Nalerigu Baptist Medical Centre. However, according to the Northern Regional Police Commander, ACP Angwubotuge Awuni, the officer would be transferred to the Tamale Teaching Hospital for further treatment.
A number of people have been arrested in connection with the violence. At the time of filing this report, the suspects were being transferred to Tamale to assist the police in their investigations.
The commander explained that the police had a tip-off that a particular Bunkpurugu-bound vehicle was carrying arms into the area but they were not furnished with the registration number of the vehicle.
He, however, said when a vehicle, with registration number AS 285 F, got to the Nakpanduri Barrier at 7 p.m. on that Tuesday, the police intercepted it, since it fitted the description of the particular vehicle they had been tipped-off about.
Later, around 11 p.m. when the police attempted searching the vehicle, irate youth of the area, who had apparently got wind of the intention of the police, massed up at the barrier to prevent the police from conducting the search.
Their presence degenerated into confusion, resulting in an attack on the police and leading to the shooting of the policeman.
According to ACP Awuni, “at the moment the vehicle is on its way to Tamale and it shall be thoroughly searched upon arrival to ascertain whether it is really carrying weapons or not”.
A similar search on a Bunkpurugu-bound vehicle by the police at a Tamale barrier last week led to the retrieval of some weapons, including 178 rounds of ammunition for AK 47 rifles, 80 rounds of MM used by conventional pistols, eight bayonets and 19 military pouches.
The driver of that vehicle, with registration number ER 3336X, Abdullah Yaro, and his mate, Yamuson Ibrahim, are currently facing charges at the Tamale District Court for carrying offensive weapons without authority.