Family Of Man ‘Wrongfully Killed’ By Police Saddened By Injustice

The family of a 27-year-old man, Emmanuel Amofa who was shot and killed by police at Agbogba have said they are saddened by his unjust killing. A Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID) investigation has exonerated the deceased who the police claimed was an armed robber.

Emmanuel Amofa's death was covered extensively on Citi News after his family challenged the circumstances surrounding his gunning down by the police over claims that he was an armed robber.

In April 2018, when Emmanuel was shot dead by the police at Agbogba, the family wanted the officers involved investigated and punished.

But, in an interview with Citi News, sister of the deceased Nana Akua Amofa said the family only heard the news in the papers without any formal correspondence from the CID.

“It is very sad because officially we have not heard anything from anyone. We cannot say that we are happy because our brother who was killed was innocent. We are sad; my mum is crying, my dad is crying, the whole family is crying.”

“I remember when this first happened; the police was very rude to us because they insisted our brother was an armed robber. But, for us to get closure, they really need to tell us what happened,” she added.

How Emmanuel died

According to reports, Emmanuel was hanging out with his friends at a pub after they had observed the one-week celebration of the death of their peer.

The police patrol team, upon their arrival at the scene, alleged that one of them was wielding a gun.

Emmanuel's friends then bolted, leaving him behind as the police allegedly assaulted him several times.

He scaled a wall into a house across the road in an attempt to escape.

Local pub where the police invaded

He was however chased by the police, who shot at him several times.

“I woke up early to sweep the compound before daybreak. At once, I heard several gunshots. Then I heard the police officer asking me to get inside. At that point, I heard the guy scream 'I am dying I am dying'. If I were around this area [where he was shot] I am sure they would have shot me,” the caretaker of the house narrated to Citi News.

He expressed anger at the police for failing to return to his house to explain what had happened or offer him an apology while no officers had been there since the shooting to process the scene.

“I thought that maybe if day breaks, they will come and explain things or even ask questions about the guy. But no one has been here,” he fumed.

Bullet spot on a wall in the area

Traumatized family

The family suspected attempts by the police to cover up and are demanding justice.

“When we were shown his body, you could tell he has been assaulted. There was little change in his form just that his head looked swollen. From the story that has been put out there by the police, you can clearly see the police has something to hide. We as a family of the deceased is not going to lay this matter to rest until the perpetrators are brought to book,” Emmanuel's elder brother vowed.

“We the family are traumatized,” the deceased's sister said.

“I have four brothers. My dad was expecting my brothers to carry his coffin – two in front, two behind. But look at us,” she lamented.

She reiterated the vow to get justice no matter what, stating that they “are not going to rest, trust me even if it will take my last blood.”

The father of the deceased was equally inconsolable. Peering into the sky as if to search for his dead soon, he said; “I am really bereft of a suitable way of expressing my emotion. I am so devastated it seems the world around me has crumbled.”

“I am not worried about his death but if the boy had actually stolen something or gone on an armed robbery mission then, I will have no query about it. One man can hardly defeat a dozen. Assuming that you caught him, beat him up, why shoot him? Why shoot him?” he questioned repeatedly.

Emmanuel's father blamed the Inspector General of Police (IGP) David Asante Apeatu for what he described as the irresponsible conduct of the police.

–

Source: citinewsroom.com |Ghana | [email protected]