The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Special Operations Team was involved in a violent conflict during an intelligence-led operation at the Aboabo Forest enclave in the Tamale Metropolis, Northern Region.
While advancing through the neighborhood in search of criminal gangs involved in robbery and drug trafficking, the officers were met by unexpected gunfire from a group of armed criminals.
“The attack placed the lives of team members in immediate danger. Acting in line with police rules of engagement and legitimate self-defence protocols, the officers returned fire to neutralise the threat. One suspect was struck during the exchange.The remaining armed individuals fled the scene with their weapons as reinforcements closed in,” a police statement said.
The squad, it said, approached the injured suspect with the goal of offering assistance and taking him to the Tamale Teaching Hospital, where the attending medical officer pronounced him dead.
The body was then taken to the mortuary for preservation until the autopsy was performed.
“The confrontation confirmed earlier intelligence indicating that the criminal elements within the area were heavily armed and prepared to violently resist arrest,” according to the investigation.
As part of its operational actions in the Northern Region, the special operations team reportedly paid Sheikh Basha, the leader of Masjidul Bayan, a mosque in the city, a courtesy call earlier in the day.
50 employees participated in the visit, which was headed by ASP Bawah Abdul Jalil and supported by eight service cars, including a Black Maria.
Sheikh Basha welcomed the crew with open arms, as did a number of Imams and local elders.
ASP Abdul Jalil gave the religious leaders a briefing on the team’s mission, which included fighting crimes that compromised national security, such as rape, robbery, attacks on mobile money vendors, and illegal drug sales.
According to the report, “Sheikh Basha offered prayers, encouragement, and support for the police, praising their efforts in safeguarding communities.”
The crew went to Sanzhirigu after the courtesy call, according to the report, where intelligence indicated that a specific residence was being utilized for the sale and consumption of illegal narcotics.
Officers discovered a number of people on the property when they arrived, and they detained five suspects.
Bottles of Koffex syrup and large amounts of dried leaves thought to be Indian hemp were found.
The crew found Aboabo Forest, a notorious hiding place for gangs involved in drug trafficking and robberies, according to subsequent intelligence.
“Throughout the day’s activities, the IGP Special Operations Team maintained high levels of discipline, tactical coordination and adherence to rules of engagement. Their professionalism remained evident even in the face of armed resistance, reinforcing public confidence in the ongoing efforts to curb violent crime and criminal networks within the Tamale Metropolis,” the report stated.
Source: newsthemegh.com