Garu Mayhem: Gun-Totting Militants Who Attacked Security Intelligence Officers Arrested
A joint team of soldiers and national security officers have arrested a number of suspects after The Ghana Report broke the news about an attack on counter-terrorism intelligence officers leading to a near bloodbath at Garu in the Upper East Region.
The Ministry of National Security corroborated reports by The Ghana Report about a war-zone-like situation of heavy gunfire by armed militants which lasted overnight.
A statement from the Ministry of National Security on Sunday, October 29, explained that “a joint operation in Garu to seize weapons used by the perpetrators of the attack on the National Security personnel” was conducted on Saturday and “a number of the perpetrators have also been arrested”.
The tape captures the voice of one Moro Zabug, who swore heaven and earth to ensure that the officers were killed and their car burnt to ashes.
The Ministry of National Security has provided details of the shooting incident that resulted in the destruction of a national security vehicle in the release below:
On Tuesday, October 24, 2023, an irate youth group armed with AK 47 rifles, machetes and other weapons besieged a team of five counter-terrorism intelligence officers deployed by the Ministry of National Security to Garu, in the Upper East Region on a critical, special operation.
Despite initial attempts to introduce themselves as National Security personnel, the irate youth group proceeded to attack the officers by firing multiple gunshots at a black Toyota Land Cruiser in which the officers were seated. Following an escalation of the attacks on their vehicle, the officers drove to seek refuge at the Garu Police Station.
The irate youth, subsequently, pursued the officers, encircled the police station and fired multiple shots at same with the intention of killing the officers.
The timely intervention of the Ghana Armed Forces enabled the safe evacuation of the National Security personnel from the Garu Police Station. Further to the aforesaid development, the Ministry of National Security and the Ghana Armed Forces, on Saturday, October 28, 2023, conducted a joint operation in Garu to seize weapons used by the perpetrators of the attack on the National Security personnel. A number of the perpetrators have also been arrested.
The Ministry of National Security deems the attack on the security personnel at a police station highly unacceptable, and strongly condemns acts aimed at intimidating and harming officials of State Security and Intelligence Agencies, and impeding them from effectively executing their mandate to safeguard the peace and stability of Ghana.
Whereas the Ministry of National Security works to promote active citizen participation in safeguarding the peace and stability of our dear nation, deliberate acts that seek to jeopardise the lives of personnel of State Security and Intelligence Agencies will not be countenanced.
The Ministry owes it a duty to protect personnel of State Security and Intelligence Agencies who have sworn an oath to, at all times, defend the people and the territorial integrity of Ghana against all forms of threats.