THE Northern Regional Police Command has intercepted ammunition and military accoutrements that were being transported to the Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo District in the Northern Region, which has witnessed some communal violence recently.
The weapons included 178 rounds of ammunition for AK47 rifles, 80 rounds of MM used by conventional pistols, eight bayonets and 19 military porches.
Briefing newsmen in Tamale, the Northern Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Angwubutoge Awuni, said the items were concealed in a container and placed under the seat of the driver of a bus bound for Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo.
He said the bus, with registration number ER3336X, was intercepted at the Datoyili barrier on the outskirts of Tamale on Saturday morning.
“A search conducted on the bus exposed the items and this led to the arrest of the driver and his mate, while the vehicle was escorted to the police headquarters,” he said.
When questioned, the suspects — the driver, Abdullah Yaro, 28, and the driver’s mate, Yamuson Ibrahim, 20 — failed to mention the names of the owners of the items.
He said the police would continue with investigations to get to the truth and prosecute those found to have been behind the purchase and transportation of the items.
ACP Awuni explained that the police had earlier received information that some prominent persons were attempting to transport arms to the Bunkpurugu area to support a faction in the communal violence.
He said upon receiving the information, the police tightened their security checks at the barriers and added that the police were making sure that all cargo trucks heading to the Bunkpurugu area were searched thoroughly.
Mr Awuni cautioned all persons who intended to fuel the conflict in the area to rescind their decision, since the security was firmly on the ground monitoring events.
Meanwhile, the suspects, who have been charged with unlawful possession of ammunition and military accoutrements, will be arraigned while investigations continue.
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