The Ghana Police Service has disclosed that it has commenced investigation into the latest attack on state property by alleged members of the secessionist group, Western Togoland Restoration Front (WTRF).
Unidentified persons believed to members of the secessionist group attacked the State Transport Company Limited (STC) in Ho setting vehicles ablaze and attacking staff of the company at dawn on Tuesday, September 29, 2020.
According to the police, four armed men invaded the premises of the Ho STC demanding keys to all the vehicles parked in the yard at around 2: 00 am. The Police added that the armed men subsequently set a number of the vehicles in the yard ablaze following refusal by drivers of the vehicles to hand over the keys to them.
It said the intervention of its personnel and personnel of the Ghana fire Service curtailed further destruction of state properties and loss of human lives.
“Police is investigating the allegation that at about 02:00 am today, four armed men stormed Ho STC yard demanding the keys to all the vehicles parked and set two of the mini buses ablaze when the drivers did not produce the keys. The arrival of Police and Fire Service personnel saved the situation,” it said in a statement.
Preliminary investigation, the service stated, revealed that two of the eleven mini buses that were parked in the yard at the time of incident were torched with one burning completely and the other slightly burnt. It also stated that its further checks at the crime scene found a flag of the secessionist group.
While urging the general public to remain calm, the security service appeals for volunteered information to aid their investigations into the incident.
“Preliminary investigation shows that there were 11 vehicles parked at the time of the incident. One bus was completely burnt and another slightly burnt. A flag of the group which calls itself ‘Western Togoland’ was found at the scene.
Police urge the public to remain calm, while volunteering information to Police and Security Services,” it added.
After attacking the police stations, the armed men proceeded to block major entry and exit points into the Volta Region leaving passengers stranded on the roads.
A Joint security operation later cleared the roads paving way for the flow of traffic on the entry and exit points of the region. Gunfire exchanges exchange between the security and the group led to the death of one of a suspected member of the group and arrest of many others.
The security have also retrieved the weapons and the vehicle.
