Two officers of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) in Damongo in the Savannah Region have been arrested for the death of a 27-year-old man.
About 10 other accomplices are said to be on the run.
The incident happened on Saturday, November 9, 2023.
Brother of the deceased, Zackaria Mudase, who lamented his younger brother’s death and identified iron marks left on his body, said that his younger brother died with sections of his body burned.
“It was Saturday between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. that a woman came to the house demanding to see our brother, Shariq Nuhu (deceased). Then we told them that he wasn’t available. So, later on, at about 8:30 p.m., two guys [fire officers] together with an okada rider came with Shariq Nuhu handcuffed.
We asked about their mission, and they said our brother stole their mattress and were searching for it. Later, we found out they were fire officers,” he narrated.
Zackaria Mudase added that his brother’s death was caused by the alleged abuse he endured at the hands of the fire officers, who shackled and dragged him to the house and then took him away.
“Yes, there’s no doubt that he did die out of the brutalities because he was not sick, nor has he complained of any illness. So, I believe that he died from the beatings, and the fire officers carried this out,” he alleged.
A senior officer from the Ghana National Fire Service’s Savannah Regional Command, who asked to remain anonymous, confirmed the incident to Joy News and said that the two suspects—whose names were withheld—are affiliated with the West Gonja Municipal Command.
When asked about the two suspects, he acknowledged that he was surprised by their involvement and said that the command would work with the police in this area.
Following Islamic custom, the deceased has since been laid to rest.