In a disturbing incident that has rocked the Upper East Region, it has been reported that a group of individuals believed to be military personnel carried out an alleged assault on the residents of Garu, leading to the hospitalization of more than fifty people. The alleged attack is said to be a retaliatory action following an earlier assault on National Security operatives by a vigilante group in the same area.
According to Bartolomeo Asore Azumbil, the Assembly Member for the Garu-Natinga Electoral Area, the alleged military personnel descended on the town in the early hours, around 2 a.m. on Saturday. Their actions were not limited to specific targets, as anyone they encountered reportedly became a victim of the assault. Shockingly, even a six-year-old child was not spared from their brutality.
Azumbil revealed, “The military came in the early hours, around 2 a.m. [on Saturday], and attacked the heart of the town. Everybody they came across was attacked and rendered several people with various degrees of injuries. About fifty-three people have been hospitalized.”
The situation escalated to a point where the alleged military personnel visited Azumbil’s residence three times. They not only beat up his six-year-old son but also ransacked his brother’s room, making off with money and mobile phones before leaving.
In response to these allegations, the Ministry of National Security and the Ghana Armed Forces have issued a joint statement. They clarified that the incident was part of a joint operation aimed at seizing weapons used in the October 24 attack on National Security personnel by the vigilante group in Garu. In this operation, several perpetrators have been arrested.
The statement from the Ministry of National Security emphasized their commitment to safeguarding the peace and stability of Ghana. It strongly condemned acts aimed at intimidating and harming officials of State Security and Intelligence Agencies, emphasizing that such actions would not be tolerated.
The general public was cautioned to act in accordance with the laws of Ghana to avoid similar operations in the future, while the incident continues to raise concerns about the delicate balance between maintaining security and respecting the rights and safety of citizens.