MP vows to drag Nitiwul to Parliament over clash between military and Ejura residents

The Minister for Defence and security chiefs are expected to be summoned in Parliament to answer questions over the killing of two residents in Ejura in the Ashanti Region by the military following the death of social media activist Ibrahim Mohammed.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Ejura Sekyedumase, Bawa Braimah Mohammed, had served notice of the filing of an urgent question to drag the authorities concerned to Parliament.

The MP, in a Citi News interview, explained the rationale for the intended action.

“They [residents] were coming from the cemetery and out of the pain of losing Kaaka. They were demonstrating and were unarmed. Even if they were holding weapons, it is the duty of the police and the military to use different means to quell the demonstration, but to fire live bullets into the crowd means the soldiers deliberately did it… I am calling on the military high command, the Ministry for National Security and Ministry for Defence to institute a probe into the shooting incident that occurred on Tuesday afternoon because it was highly uncalled-for.”

He insisted that this issue will not be allowed to be swept under the carpet.

“Myself, as a member of the Defence and Interior Committee of Parliament, I intend to petition the Chairman of the committee to ensure that we summon the security chiefs before the committee and also before the House. I think this issue has generated a lot of interest and people are unhappy about it because it could be me today, but tomorrow it could be you.”

What happened in Ejura?
A social activist, Ibrahim Muhammed died on Monday, June 28, 2021, after he was attacked by a mob when he was returning home on his motorbike on Sunday.

He’s alleged to have been killed because of his social activism, which some felt was making the government unpopular.

The 45-year-old was noted to be vocal on both local and national issues using his Facebook page.

His family says he had faced threats over his activism prior to the attack.

He was rushed to the Ejura Government Hospital and later referred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, where he died at midday on June 28.

Police in the Ashanti Region have since arrested two persons in connection with his death.

Ibrahim Muhammed’s death sparked protests in Ejura and outrage online.

He was buried on Tuesday, June 29, 2021.

After the burial, some residents of Ejura and security personnel clashed, which led to the death of two persons.

The two were among six persons who were shot during the clash and taken to the Ejura Government Hospital.

The clash occurred when some residents pelted stones at the security personnel who were deployed around the burial grounds of the late social activist.

“One died on the spot before he was brought to the hospital, so we just confirmed the death. One other died 10 minutes after resuscitation,” Dr. Mensah Manye, the Medical Superintendent Ejura Government Hospital said to Citi News.

Meanwhile, the Ashanti Regional Police Command has said it has commenced investigations into the circumstances that led to the incident between security personnel and some Ejura residents.