A 35-year-old member of the Okyeman Environmental Protection Taskforce, Noah Offei, has been shot dead by unknown assailants at Asuaba, near Adeiso in the Eastern Region.
Three other members, Maxwell Kyei, Richmond Talata, and Kwame Amoah, sustained several gunshot injuries to their hands, chests, and other parts of their bodies.
The body of the deceased has been deposited at the police hospital in Accra, while the injured are receiving treatment at the Eastern Regional Hospital in Koforidua.
Information gathered indicates that the task force was ambushed by the unknown assailants on their return from Adeiso.
The task force had gone to provide security for a 2500-acre oil plantation company in Adeiso, whose plantations were being destroyed by some locals in the area.
The incident happened during the heavy downpour on Wednesday evening.
State Secretary for Akyem Abuakwa State, D.M. Ofori Atta, expressed surprise in a press briefing over the unprovoked attack and killing of a member of the Environmental Protection Taskforce.
He said that even though the case has been reported to the Adeiso District Police Command, the Akyem Abuakwa Tradition Council hopes to see a full investigation and prosecution of the perpetrators.
‘ The Council condemns, in no uncertain terms, the senseless killing of Offei Noah and the wounding of 3 others. Members of the Taskforce were unarmed and were returning home after going about their lawful duties. We call on the Regional Police Command to institute a full-scale investigation into this matter. The Council wishes to assure the police of its full cooperation in order to bring the perpetrators to justice,” Ofori Atta stated.
He said the commission of such horrendous crimes had no place in a civilized society.