In a chilling recount of a violent raid, Imoro Karim, a resident of Fian, has bravely shared his harrowing experience of brutality at the hands of the Wa Naa Security Task Force. The incident, which occurred in the late hours of Tuesday, October 15, 2024, has left the community stunned and questioning the authority and approach of the Wa Naa Security task force in fighting community crime.
Speaking exclusively to Info Radio on Friday, Karim recounted the traumatic experience that unfolded when he was fast asleep in his home, entirely unaware of the impending danger. His peaceful night was abruptly interrupted when his wife entered their bedroom, eyes wide with fear. “She came in to warn me that men with guns were looking for me,” Karim said, his voice shaking as he recalled the panic that gripped them.
Alarmed by the news, Karim quickly reached for his phone and called a friend to inform him about the imminent threat. It was during this conversation that the violent task force began their assault on his home — kicking down his door in a desperate attempt to gain entry. Their initial efforts were thwarted, forcing the attackers to turn to a nearby heavy mortar, which they used to smash a window in a nightmarish display of aggression.
“They broke the window with the mortar, the glass shattered everywhere,” Karim explained. “They didn’t just want to intimidate me; they wanted in, and fast.” When the Wa Naa task force breached his bedroom, chaos erupted. According to Karim, he and his family — his wife and two young children — were met with a torrent of pepper spray. “We couldn’t see, we couldn’t breathe. My instincts kicked in,” he recounted. In a moment of sheer terror, he considered defending himself with his own weapon — a pump-action gun he kept for protection.
Karim's hesitation seemed momentary, as a member of the task force peered through the broken window, prompting him to nearly pull the trigger. “I was scared for my life and the lives of my family,” he said. The fray forced him out of safety, into a frigid night where gunshots followed. “They chased me, shooting as I ran for my life. Bullets struck my back. If it wasn’t for the commotion, I wouldn’t have made it out,” Karim remembered with evident distress.
The Victim, Mr. Imoro Karim Speakingto Info Radio In Dagaare
His harrowing ordeal caught the attention of neighbors, who, upon hearing the gunfire, rushed to his aid. Empowered by unity, the local youth brought down two members of the task force, apprehending them before they could escape. “It was the courage of our community that saved me,” he affirmed, gratitude woven through his pain.
Community leaders and witnesses quickly became involved following the incident. Many residents expressed outrage over the actions of the Wa Naa security task force, demanding accountability for what they perceived as a blatant abuse of power. “There was no warrant, no police. Just aggression. They attacked him in his own home,” recounted Stephen Katuole, the assembly member for the Fian electoral area.
The tensions escalated as the apprehended members of the task force allegedly began to converse with local authorities, with one identified as Ibrahim Atawuali confessing to being contracted to “discipline” Karim by his own brother, Chief. This accusation of family betrayal left the community in shock. “They claimed they were sent to teach him a lesson for allegedly beating their sister, but these accusations are unfounded,” Karim reiterated, his voice rising with indignation.
The assembly member Mr.Katuole further confirmed the statement, and urged vigilance in the community against any misuse of power. “Law enforcement should not operate outside the law. What we witnessed was unacceptable,” he stated firmly.
As the dust settled from the violent encounter, those responsible were swiftly turned over to the police. The two members of the Wa Naa task force are currently in custody, with their case set for trial on November 2, 2024, after being remanded by the Nadowli Circuit Court. Meanwhile, the community still grapples with the memory of what transpired, and many are left feeling vulnerable and mistrustful of those who are meant to protect them.
In an effort to clarify the matter, a member of the task force known as Mr. Kadir, otherwise referred to in the community as “Bushphone Doctor,” spoke to Info Radio, justifying their actions. According to him, they had received a tip-off about a phone burglary, and ended up trying to solve a domestic violence problem that was reported to the taskforce. “But we acknowledge we should have involved the police and the local assembly member,” he stated, a tinge of regret in his voice.
This assertion raised further questions about the protocol of the Wa Naa security task force and whether they acted independently or under a misguided order. Efforts to reach the Secretary of the Wa Naa, Jinpinhee, Naa Kaderi, who oversees the task force, for comments were met with silence, as calls went unanswered.
Responding to media inquiries, The Upper West Regional Police Commander DCOP Darko Offei Lomotey confirmed that two members of the Wa Naa task force are in custody awaiting trial. However, he emphasized that a thorough investigation is ongoing, seeking to uncover the full scope of the brutal events that unfolded that night.
As of now, Karim’s physical wounds are a stark reminder of that fateful night; he has sought medical treatment and has picked up a police medical form for review following his injuries. “I just want justice,” he murmured, eyes downcast, the weight of experience etched deeply upon his face.
In the wake of this violence, the community of Fian stands at a precipice, torn between their need for security and their resolve against such blatant acts of brutality. The story of Imoro Karim serves as a gut-wrenching reminder of the thin line between safety and peril, and raises essential questions about accountability, power, and the safety of innocent citizens amidst growing tensions.
As the tale of terror unfolds within the walls of homes in Fian, a clarion call for justice and reform echoes within the hearts of its residents. The community remains united, hoping not just for justice for Karim and his family but for greater oversight and action against any form of tyranny that threatens the fabric of their lives by the Wa Naa security task force.
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