A police post at Asempaneye Forest near Sefwi Sayerano in the Juaboso District of the Western North Region has been set ablaze by unidentified persons following a police shooting that claimed two lives.
No injuries were reported in the arson attack, but the incident has heightened security concerns in the area.
The violence followed a confrontation between residents of Sayerano and a police patrol team during an operation to arrest a suspected drug peddler.
According to the Western North Regional Police Command, preliminary investigations indicate that six people sustained gunshot wounds during the incident, with two later dying. The remaining four victims are receiving treatment at the Asafo Roman Catholic Hospital.
The Ghana Police Service has since interdicted all eight officers involved in the operation, while the Inspector-General of Police has directed the Police Professional Standards Bureau (PPSB) to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Police said the confrontation erupted when officers attempted to arrest a suspected drug peddler.
However, eyewitnesses alleged that residents tried to prevent the arrest, resulting in a clash during which police opened fire.
A resident, Okyeame Kwaku Ortiz, told Adom News that two people died at the scene, while two others suffered gunshot wounds and fractures.
He also claimed another resident was initially reported missing after the incident, raising fears that the individual may also have been shot.
Ortiz called for a thorough investigation into the incident and urged authorities to ensure justice for the victims.
