Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Sekondi.
A LARGE crowd of civilians looked on in awe when about 30 Naval officers engaged an equal number of police officers in a brutal street brawl at the Sekondi Police Station last Saturday night.
The free-for-all followed an attempt by the Naval officers to forcibly free two of their colleagues who had been arrested during a swoop on a hideout in Sekondi believed to be the den of drug peddlers and violent criminals.
In the end, the police triumphed and succeeded in keeping the attacking Navy men at bay. They arrested one of the Navy men, identified as Chief Petty Officer or WO Abu Abubakari, and locked him up with the two at the same police station.
Police sources said the two Navy men were among a group of suspected criminals who were engaged in the smoking of ‘wee’ when the police mounted the exercise. The police rounded them up and placed them in police cells.
The source said when news of the arrest got to the colleagues of the two at the Naval Base, they invaded the police station, assaulted the police woman on duty and attempted to open the cell gate by smashing the locks with stones and metals.
Further investigations by the Daily Graphic revealed that the rampaging naval officers were led by one Sub-Lt Teye Dzadza in the attempt to rescue their two colleagues, who were identified as Philip Berko Okyere and Emmanuel Nyanyo, both Able Seamen stationed in Sekondi.
The officer was said to have made an initial visit to the station to attempt releasing his colleagues but when it was explained to him that they were in lawful custody, he left, only to return with more soldiers to apply force.
With the reinforcement, the soldiers were said to have pounced on the station officer, beat her up before moving to the cell gate to attempt breaking the locks. At that point, the duty officer was said to have blown her whistle to alert the other police officers about the imminent cell break. The alarm attracted the attention of her colleagues who were within hearing range and they immediately rushed in.
Upon the arrival of more policemen, a serious fight ensued, resulting in injuries on both sides. The most severely injured was a policeman who suffered a twisted waist and a broken wrist.
The police however, foiled the attempt to rescue the suspects and arrested one of the Naval officers.
After being so fiercely resisted, the men from the Naval Base left the fight venue, which had then been reduced to a scene of broken stones and other debris.
Information reaching the Daily Graphic indicate that the alleged leader of the group, Sub-Lt Dzadza, is being held for questioning, while the Regional Co-ordinating Council is making attempts to resolve the issue.
The acting Regional Police Commander, ACP R. M. Azu, said the police are investigating but declined further comment.
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