Some youth in Tamale staged a protest against the immediate recall of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) special operations team from the Northern Region, expressing fear that the move could reverse recent gains made in the fight against crime.
Upon hearing of the redeployment of the team, hundreds of the youth last Thursday night besieged the Global Dream Hotel where the personnel had been lodging to appeal to them to rescind their decision.
The youth also marched through the principal streets of the metropolis to register their displeasure, and subsequently called on the Metropolitan Chief Executive of Tamale, Abu Takoro, and other opinion leaders to intervene.
Law and order
The protesters said the operations of the team had contributed significantly to restoring law and order and improving public confidence in security within the city and surrounding communities.
They, therefore, appealed to the police administration to reconsider the decision to withdraw the team, insisting that its continued presence was critical to sustaining the improved security situation in the regional capital.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic, a resident, Abdul Rauf Mahama, said the presence of the team had helped to sanitise many areas that were previously considered crime-prone.
“I am very worried about the redeployment of the team from the metropolis, because we are likely witnessing a surge in criminal activities and all the gains made for the past months will be in vain”, he said.
Another resident, Alhassan Lukman, appealed to clerics, chiefs, and other opinion leaders to add their voices to the calls to sustain the gains made by the task force.
“We want them to stay and continue with their work to ensure that the region is free from crime, especially drug dealing, substance abuse, among others,” he added.
Arrest
Since the deployment of the special task force, more than 1,000 suspects have been arrested at various hideouts in connection with illicit substance trading and abuse and other criminal activities.
The operations, which targeted drug peddling hotspots and criminal hideouts across the region, also led to successful prosecutions and the conviction of a number of offenders.
At a press conference in Tamale, the Northern Regional Police Commander, DCOP Wisdom Lavoe, said the prosecutions had resulted in fines totalling GH¢938,800 paid to the state by convicts.
DCOP Lavoe added that the courts also handed down custodial sentences to some offenders, with nine convicted persons currently serving prison terms ranging from 15 months to 15 years for various offences.
He said the gains made were possible through close collaboration between the “Black Maria” team and the Northern Regional Police Command, which strengthened police visibility and intelligence-led operations across the region.
Assurance
DCOP Lavoe assured the public that although the special team had exited the region, the command remained committed to sustaining the gains made.
He said the regional command would intensify operations, improve resource deployment and maintain a strong security presence to continue the fight against drug-related crimes and other criminal activities.
Following the exit of the team, the commander said that his outfit had formed a task force made up of personnel drawn from the 18 districts in the region to continue with the operations previously undertaken by the Black Maria team.
“We are assuring the youth that their normal activities should go on without fear or panic.
We are here to protect them and we will flush out criminals,” he stated.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh
