Independent Body Set Up to Investigate Shootings in Alavanyo

By Kafui Gati

Ho — An independent body has been set up by the Volta Regional Security Council to investigate the cross- fire shootings on Monday that led to loss of lives with others sustaining injuries at Alavanyo in the Hohoe Municipality of the Volta Region.

The Volta Regional Police Commander, DCOP Francis Ebenezer Doku disclosed this at a media briefing in Ho yesterday.

DCOP Doku who gave the accounts noted that the issue would not have degenerated had the youth in the communities not attacked the security forces.

"This issue could have been resolved amicably without the use of force if the youth in the town did not attack the Military that went to the community not in combat mood but to negotiate for the release of an AK47 and handcuffs. The Constitution mandates security personnel to ensure people live in safe environment and not to tolerate confrontation from civilians," he said.

DCOP Doku entreated the chiefs and opinion leaders at Alavanyo to advise their youth to exercise restraints to pave way for peace to prevail in the area.

Meanwhile calm has been restored in Alavanyo, while a team of military personnel has been deployed to ensure safety of the people in the area.

Police officers stationed in the area are also reported to have been withdrawn to the Nkonya side of the camp for the situation to return to normalcy.

About three people were shot dead and six others injured at Alavanyo in the Hohoe Municipality after the youth in the area allegedly engaged a joint military and police force in a gun battle on Sunday and Monday.

Police account indicated that two of the deceased died when some youth of Alavanyo-Dzogbedze exchanged fire with the military which was in the community to negotiate and retrieve an AK47 seized from a police officer by the youth.

A team of eight policemen went to the community, upon intelligence, to arrest three suspects who were alleged to have been in possession of a locally manufactured gun.

The reports indicated that the youth attacked the police and managed to free the suspects who fled in handcuffs.

The youth, according to the police account, opened fire on the military negotiators that were in the community to retrieve the AK47 riffle and handcuffs which prompted the military to retaliate.

The other deceased, an elderly man in his 70s was shot dead during another attack by some youth of Alavanyo-Kpeme on another military and police joint force on Monday which resulted in a cross fire shoot out.

A military man who was shot in the foot, according to the police, is receiving treatment at the 7MRS medical facility at the 66 Artillery Regiment in Ho. Police and military vehicles, according to the police reports, were also damaged during the shoot outs.

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