Police Hunt Bawku Rambo

The Police in Bawku have placed a price tag on a man identified as Mohammed Iddrisu, but commonly referred to as 'Bush Rambo', who is said to have embarked on a shooting spree last Friday in an attempt to kill another man near the animal market.

A report carried by Peace Fm yesterday quoted the Upper East Police Commander, ACP Bright Oduro, as saying, “…Bush Rambo, who was said to be armed with an AK 47 assault rifle at the time, fired at Fuseini Moro but missed him.

He however followed up, shooting indiscriminately and firing over 20 bullets, all in an attempt to kill Fuseini Moro who was riding a motorbike.

“The herdsman, believed to be a Kusasi, was shot at by 'Bush Rambo', a Mamprusi, leading to the sporadic shooting that lasted for more than three days.”

The Police Commander further revealed that “sounds of the gunshots indicate the use of very sophisticated weaponry like AK-47…it could also be G3, machine guns…but we don't know how they got these weapons. How they came by the ammunitions is also very worrying”.

Bright Oduro warned that very soon, the command will publish the names of suspected individuals who are behind the Bawku riots, including those suspected to be the ring-leaders in this week's conflict.

According to him, the decision to reveal the identities of all the perpetrators was agreed upon after the Upper East Regional Security Council (REGSEC) met on Monday in the heat of sporadic shootings in the township.

Meanwhile, the Police Administration has deployed four light armored vehicles to help the movement of personnel on operation in the area.

The police also added 200 bullet-proof jackets to the existing ones, as a response to an appeal made by the officers on the ground through the Upper East Regional Security Council.

The Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo who handed over the vehicles and bullet-proof jackets to the Regional Police Commander, ACP Bright Oduro, in Bolgatanga, said the vehicles and jackets were to help the Police personnel go about their duties with confidence.

Mr. Woyongo was impressed with the swift response to the REGSEC request and hoped the helicopter will also come soon to make patrol effective.

The Upper East Regional Police Commander announced that his outfit had dispatched 60 more Police personnel to add up to the number on the ground.

According to ACP Bright Oduro, security personnel from the various agencies were on top of events in the area and so far, 20 persons were being kept in Police custody. Ten minors who were among those arrested have meanwhile been released.

He called for motivation for security personnel on the ground to enable them give off their best, instead of insults that mostly come from residents of the area, when things go wrong sometimes.

From Ebo Bruce-Quansah, Bolgatanga