Tension erupted at Nsuaem in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality of the Western Region on Wednesday, after some youth clashed with police over an alleged child abduction incident.
The confrontation left several people injured, properties destroyed, and forced the temporary closure of the Nsuaem Police Station.
Chaos broke out when a 25-year-old man, identified by police as Sulley Moses, was allegedly seen attempting to lure two schoolchildren near the Nivo Filling Station at Nsuaem.
Eyewitnesses say a storekeeper raised an alarm after observing the suspect’s suspicious behaviour. The youth, supported by a female police officer, quickly apprehended him and escorted him to the Nsuaem Police Station.
Police investigations confirmed that the children, aged seven and five, told officers the suspect had forcibly held the hand of one of them, prompting his detention for questioning.
But what started as a routine arrest soon escalated into chaos. Moments later, a mob of over 500 residents, armed with stones and sticks, besieged the police station, demanding that the suspect be handed over to them.
The angry youth blocked the Takoradi–Tarkwa highway, set tyres ablaze, and hurled stones at the police building, insisting on instant justice.
Police declined to hand over the suspect, insisting on due process. That decision further angered the crowd, resulting in clashes that left three police officers and four civilians injured.
A police vehicle, sections of the station building, and several impounded motorbikes were vandalized, with some set ablaze.
Police responded with warning shots to disperse the mob, while reinforcement teams assisted by the military were deployed to restore calm.
All police personnel have since been evacuated from Nsuaem, and the station temporarily shut down. The suspect has been transferred to the Tarkwa Regional Police Headquarters for further investigation.
One injured civilian was referred to the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital for treatment.
The father of the rescued children, Clement Wedam, says the incident has left his children traumatized.
The Western Regional Police Command has condemned the attack, describing it as unacceptable. It says all those involved in the mob action will be identified and prosecuted.
Calm has since been restored, but security remains tight as investigations continue. Authorities are urging residents to remain law-abiding and allow the law to take its course.
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