Police vehicle set ablaze as Hohoe residents clash with police

There are reports of tension brewing in Godenu, a village near Hohoe in the Volta region, as residents have clashed with the police.

The incident which happened today, Wednesday, August 30, 2023, states that the police allegedly opened fire on residents, leaving several others injured and one person dead.

According to citinewsroom.com, the incident took place when the police tried to arrest a man who was suspected to be carrying Indian hemp from his farm and escaped into a house in the village while riding his motorbike.

This prompted the police to begin shooting indiscriminately in their quest to find the victim and also burnt all motorbikes on the site, but ended up killing one person and injuring several others.

Some aggrieved residents, in reaction to the actions of the police, set one of the police vehicles ablaze.

Francis Kakraba, a resident of the Godenu narrated what transpired with regard to the incident.

“In the morning around 10:am, I heard some gunshots. I rushed out and saw some people screaming. The police after failing to arrest a farmer who was returning from his farm suspected to be carrying Indian hemp rushed to the community and started shooting.

“Some of their vehicles caught fire in the process. Some people sustained injuries and others have died,” he said according to citinewsroom.com.

According to citinewsroom.com report, the member of parliament for the area affirmed that he has been briefed on the incident and the police have begun probing the case.

Some residents have locked themselves up in their rooms over fears that they might be shot when they come out.

The body of the deceased has been sent to the morgue while injured persons have been taken to the hospital for treatment.

The residents of Godenu are calling for an end to police brutality in the area to bring culprits to justice.