The Ashanti Regional Police Command has intensified its investigation into the violent clash at Bepotenten Sukuum, providing more details on the sequence of events that led to a bloody confrontation between law enforcement and a local mob in the Jacobu District.
The escalation began on Friday, January 23, 2026, during what was meant to be a routine patrol. Officers encountered a 15-year-old boy in possession of a pump-action shotgun. In an effort to follow due process without immediate detention of the minor, the police confiscated the weapon and instructed the teenager to inform the legal owner to present the firearm’s registration and license at the local station.
However, this act of enforcement appears to have served as a catalyst for local agitation.
As the patrol team attempted to exit the area, they found their path obstructed by an organized blockade consisting of approximately 100 residents.
The atmosphere quickly turned hostile as the crowd, reportedly armed with an assortment of weapons including cutlasses and firearms, surrounded the police vehicle. In the chaos of the ensuing assault, the mob physically overpowered members of the team, successfully disarming an officer and seizing a service rifle.
Recognizing the extreme danger posed by a high-velocity military-grade weapon in the hands of an aggressive civilian, the police engaged in a high-stakes struggle to recover the asset.
During the skirmish, the individual who had snatched the service rifle was shot by the police, and a second assailant sustained injuries. While the officers were able to successfully retrieve the rifle and retreat, the incident has left the community in a state of high tension.
In a formal statement following the incident, the Police Command condemned the “lawless” behavior of the residents, emphasizing that attacks on the state’s security apparatus will not be tolerated. They have warned that the investigation will not only focus on the initial assault but also on identifying every individual involved in the blockade and the subsequent theft of the service rifle.
Security has since been beefed up in the Jacobu District to prevent retaliatory violence and to ensure that all perpetrators are brought to justice.
Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
