The Ministry of National Security has refuted claims that the deployment of soldiers to Garu, a town in the Upper East Region, was intended to mistreat its residents.
The ministry clarified that the soldiers were dispatched to the town for a special operation but encountered hostility from some agitated community members.
The operation, scheduled for October 24, 2023, faced strong resistance from the Garu youth when they confronted the security personnel, armed with AK-47 and rifle guns.
In a press statement released by the National Security Ministry and available to GhanaWeb, it was explained that the Garu youth initiated an attack on five counter-terrorism intelligence officers by firing at a black Toyota Land Cruiser in which the officers were traveling.
Despite their efforts to identify themselves as national security personnel, the Garu youth did not allow them the opportunity to do so.
The ministry also mentioned that the intelligence officers were pursued by the youth to the local police station, where the attack persisted.
According to the Ministry of National Security, 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 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.
According to the ministry, a number of the perpetrators have also been arrested.
