Cop Killers Grabbed

Victor Nornu  (left) and Dukpo Kofi
Two persons suspected to be connected with the death of the police constable who was shot in Ho on September 22, 2015, have been arrested by the police in the Volta Regional.

The suspects, who have been identified as 30-year-old Victor Nornu and Kofi Dukpo aka Mark Pozo, have been remanded into police custody by a magistrate court in Ho.

They are to reappear before the end of this month. Meanwhile, a third accomplice (name withheld for security reasons) is on the run.

The Volta Regional Police Commander, DCOP Peterkin Yentumi Gyinae, disclosed this during a press briefing and the launch of 'Operation Father Christmas' in the region. Operation Father Christmas is the code name for the security activities of the law enforcement agents during the Yuletide. It is actually being implemented in the entire country.

DCOP Gyinae narrated that Victor Nornu was first arrested at his residence at Penyi, near Dzodze on November 13, 2015 at about 2:00 am. Both places are in the Ketu North District. Upon interrogation, he then led the police to arrest Dukpo Kofi from his house at Dzodze where the police recovered two locally made pistols and a single barrel gun as well as one AK 47 assault rifle (7.62mm).

He said Victor, an auto mechanic by profession, had so far cooperated with the police and narrated how he got involved in the robbery of the Radiance Gas Filling Station in Ho and the subsequent murder of Constable Emmanuel Nii Atseku. However, Dukpo aka Mark Pozo, has denied all that Victor had said and also denied knowing him.

The Commander said Victor told the police that on 22 September, 2015 he received a call at about 1:00 am while at Penyi, from the disappeared accomplice to come to Ho with a taxi cab to assist him (accomplice) and others to escape.

Nornu claimed that he travelled that night to Ho and met Dukpo Kofi and the third accomplice at the Nurses' Training College Junction.

He said the two carried a sack but he did not know its content.

Victor then called a taxi driver friend who came to pick them to his house at Penyi. As they were in the room, he and the taxi driver saw the AK 47 rifle, a foreign pistol and a locally made pistol which were in the sack.

The following day, Dulpo Kofi and the other accomplice returned to him for the weapons but failed to tell him how they got them.

The taxi driver, who was also invited by the police, confirmed Victor's story.

On that fateful day the constable who was on duty at the Radiance Gas Filling Station near GRIDCo Sub Station – popularly called Power House – was shot in the face.

The assailants escaped with AK47 assault rifle loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition.

A post-mortem at the Police Hospital revealed that the assailants killed the constable with pellets shot from a locally made pistol.

Investigations are ongoing to apprehend the absconded accomplice and to also retrieve the police weapon. The suspects are to reappear in court on 7^th November, 2015.

From Fred Duodu, Ho ( [email protected] )