The Northern Regional Police Command has put in place measures to increase the number of security personnel on the streets and suburbs of Tamale, especially in the nights.
Regional Crime Officer, Superintendent Bernard Baba Ananga, who announced this in an interview with the GNA about Thursday night’s disturbances in Tamale, said, “police officers have also been positioned at vantage points especially at Savelugu” to ensure law and order.
Last Thursday, December 10, after former President John Mahama’s address to the public on the outcome of Monday’s elections, some supporters of the National Democratic Congress massed up on the streets of Tamale and burnt tyres to protest the results of the Presidential polls.
Some of the streets where tyres were burnt, included main Tamale to Agric Traffic Light, Changli Junction, Sagani Road, and Tishigu Road, where about 15 tyres were burnt within few yards of each other at the main intersections on these roads.
Amidst the burning of tyres and the protests, personnel from the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Armed Forces, who were on patrol duties, stepped in to restore order amidst gunshots from different angles.
Superintendent Ananga said civilians in Tamale Metropolis have in their possessions heavy and sophisticated arms and ammunitions.
The sounds of the guns he explained gave clue to the police the kinds of guns that were being used. They were believed to be that of AK47, Machine Guns, pistols, Pump Action and locally manufactured guns.
The Regional Crime officer indicated that the shooters were using motorcycles with pillions that sporadically fired shots from all directions through Changli, Tishigu, Sagani road, Agric Traffic light among others.
Supt Anaba said but for the timely and strategic movement of the joint security patrols that coiled the parches of disturbances, the situation could have been worsened.
The patrol teams he added did a marvelous job to repel the crowds” and assured all that the Police were well motivated to protect residents and warned miscreants that the Police would not spare them. He said there was no cause for alarm and urged residents to go about their normal activities without any fear.
