NDC members on rampage over vigilante killing

Family members and friends of Wasihu Iddrisu, 35, a member of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) Taskforce, who was shot and killed by the Hawks (another NDC vigilante group), went on the rampage last Monday in Kumasi to demand justice for the deceased.

They said until former President John Mahama and the party’s leadership found something sensible to tell them about Wasihu’s senseless killing, they would continue to make things difficult for the opposition party in the Ashanti Region.

Burning Tyres

Armed with offensive weapons including machetes, some members of the group, without provocation, started to openly burn car tyres on the premises of the NDC regional office at Amakom, Kumasi.

The angry members also chanted war songs and issued threats as they demanded justice for their late colleague, Wasihu.

NDC Gurus Flee

Sensing danger, the NDC regional executives and members that were at the party office at the time reportedly ran towards different directions in a desperate attempt to prevent being attacked by the mob.

The burning of car tyres continued for some time on the premises of the NDC regional office before the police came in to restore calm.

Cause of Anger

The friends and family members of Wasihu said that the NDC leadership in the region was offering support to the killers of their brother, and being NDC staunch members also, they said they had to prove to them that the party does not support wrongdoing.

They said if the NDC members wanted to enjoy their peace, then they should stop offering support to the suspects and also think about a reasonable monetary compensation for the bereaved family.

Proper Compensation

The irate group said they were demanding what they called ‘proper compensation’ from the leadership of the NDC for Wasihu’s death and had vowed to atone for the death of the departed if nothing is done.

According to them, since Wasihu was brutally shot and killed on Monday, February 18, the NDC leadership had given the family GH¢10,000 and said that cannot compensate for the loss of a human being.

They went on the rampage burning car tyres and threatening to manhandle the party’s executives when they stormed the NDC regional office.

Before they got to the regional office, the angry group caused mayhem at Sawaba Junction in Kumasi where they burnt another set of car tyres.

The police eventually calmed tempers before they left the NDC Amakom Office threatening to return if the leadership refused to compensate the family adequately for the death of Wasihu.

Wasihu’s Widow

Tanko Mohammed, one of the family members of the deceased, said they would not listen to any pleas if the NDC refused to give the family justice.

He said Wasihu left behind a wife, children and family members, who cannot fend for the widow and the children.

He said the family wanted the party to properly compensate them so that they can take care of the widow and children left behind by the deceased.

Meanwhile, there is tension at Sawaba as the angry youth in the densely populated community have threatened to cause more troubles until the law eventually deals mercilessly with the killers of Wasihu.

Suspects Remanded

So far, about five persons have been arrested in connection with Wasihu’s murder even though the police put 12 vigilantes (The Hawks) on wanted list. Those arrested are on remand.

The police mentioned some of the suspects at large as Abdul Bari Mohammed, alias Warrior; Midjima; Abu Taliban; Saani Mohammed, aka Commando; Gyafaru, alias Element; Rhule, aka Jah Rhule; Demos, Fayiz and Suleiman, aka Akon.

Apart from Wasihu, who was shot multiple times and killed instantly, another Taskforce member, identified as Abdul Rahman, aka West, was also hit by bullets, and was rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.

On February 18, the NDC Ashanti Regional Office in Kumasi was turned into a war zone, as the two rival vigilante groups – the Hawks and the Taskforce – engaged in a fierce shootout, resulting in the death of Wasihu.

The Hawks, according to the police, openly shot two members of the NDC Taskforce in a Hollywood fashion in the full glare of the public.

Window Escape

As of the time of the shooting, NDC national executives, including Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, Johnson Asiedu Nketia and Barbara Serwah Asamoah, were meeting the Ashanti regional executives to restore peace.

They were holding the meeting to address the numerous problems facing the party in the various constituencies in the region when hell broke loose.

The national executives reportedly had to jump through the windows to save their lives.