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The national security commander SWAT, the group at the center of the violence in the by-election of Ayawaso West Wuogon, yesterday told the Justice Short Commission investigating the incident that he only did not know why some of his team were wearing masks.
Nearly three weeks after the incident, DSP Samuel Kojo Azugu said he "has not yet obtained this information."
In his testimony that lasted four hours, the man who led the national security team at the by-election explained to the commission that team members sometimes wore masks during operations so as not to fall prey to mosquitoes.
"We do not wear any special equipment covering the neck to prevent mosquito bites. Some of them, when we leave, impose themselves as a precaution, "he said.
He also explained that they used the uniform to avoid being identified or compromised by members of the public, these being from the same community and acting as informants and surveillance officers.
Not satisfied with the answers, some commissioners relayed in turn the Azugu DSP on the wearing of masks and the incident as a whole.
Below are excerpts from the interrogation:
Commissioner Short (CJS): As I understand your statement, the masked people were people from this community or knew the community members and provided them with information. That's why they were masked. Is that what you suggest? In this particular operation, why were they masked?
DSP Azugu: I have not yet … I have not got this information yet.
CJS: Are you aware of a policy that determines when a member of the SWAT team will be masked?
DSP Azugu: Yes, my lord.
CJS: What is this policy? You said that they might want to be protected against mosquitoes, and so on. It was an operation during the day. This was not for protection against mosquitoes.
DSP Azugu: I used this example to highlight the fact that when they were preparing to stay out at night, they keep these documents on them so that if our operations drag us into the night, they can keep them and use them. But that day, I do not know yet why those you saw under masks decided to put them.
CJS: Even if you were in charge of the operation, did not you know?
DSP Azugu: Yes, my lord. I do not know yet sir.
CJS: There was a polling station where you went with your team. Do you think it was safe for some of your men to wear masks near this polling station? Do not you think it created fear and panic among the civilians who were there to vote?
DSP Azugu: As I said before, we did not go for the elections. But if I saw a masked man doing surgery, I would ask him why he put on the mask and if he gave no concrete explanation, I would ask him to hide it.
CJS: But on that occasion, you did not ask them to …
Azugu DSP: I could not do it because of the turn of events. My Lord, all these things, from which we heard the shot, lasted about 15 minutes.
CJS: When you saw that they were wearing masks, why did not you ask them to remove them?
their?
Azugu DSP: I said earlier that we were parked in our vehicles. I asked that no one come until we started to head towards … As a commander, I would not have the time, in this chaotic situation, to ask them to do so. , with all due respect. It was after … I saw that some of them were wearing masks. Even then, some of them had the right to hide themselves so as not to be identified as national security agents.
Commissioner Mensah-Bonsu (CMB): You said you've been part of this SWAT team for a year.
DSP Azugu: Yes, my lord.
CMB: When was it formed?
DSP Azugu: It's a long time ago. probably 20 years ago.
CMB: The members of the team now; when did they become members?
Azugu DSP: Most of them have been transferred there under the current government.
CMB: They've been here since 2017. Did you meet them there?
DSP Azugu: I have almost met them all because I am the latest addition. I went there more than a year ago now.
CMB: Does the SWAT National Security Team have a relationship with the Constituent Police Unit (FPU)?
DSP Azugu: Yes. When we conduct operations inside and outside Accra, we sometimes invite the UPF to join us to participate in some of our operations.
CMB: You mentioned that people wore uniforms and that you described them. These are ginger-colored uniforms and not police uniforms.
DSP Azugu: The police were in blue-black camouflage with bulletproof vests and civilian agents in black.
CMB: What about ginger uniforms? who was wearing them?
Azugu DSP: The brown that they normally wear when they go to workout, they wear it with a black t-shirt. But because they wanted to be uniform, they decided to wear the uniform that they used for training.
CMB: Are you saying that men, when they leave for an operation, decide what to wear.
DSP Azugu: No, my lord. Because when they do, they seem uniform for easy identification. When we go out and maybe we commit ourselves, you know that this man is with you, this man is with you.
CMB: Can they dress as they please as long as they wear a black t-shirt?
DSP Azugu: Yes, my lord.
CMB: The ginger uniform is what they wear for training, but it has become the uniform for operations.
Azugu DSP: This is not why they should use it.
When another member of the commission and former Inspector General of Police, Mr. Patrick Acheampong, took his turn, he questioned the witness about the level of collaboration between the SWAT national security team and the leadership of the police. police operations.
He observed that the national security team was ill-prepared for this task and advised Mr. Azugu not to allow the use of the team because, in some cases, the SWAT team had been used for land guard duties on behalf of state institutions.
Who badaulted Sam George?
Mr. Azugu refused to publicly reveal the name of the officer who badaulted Ningo-Prampram (NDC) MP Sam George, as well as what the legislator reportedly said was a slap in the face. 39, National Security Officer.
He told the commission that what the agent had told him was in bad taste and was threatening national cohesion and unity, adding that he could only provide the details in-camera closed.
The commissioners were not initially convinced of the answer and insisted, after a three-minute deliberation with the commission's lawyer, Mr. Samuel Osei Mensah, that they were immune to the blasphemies, but the DSP Azugu refused to give his name in public.
At that time, Judge Short intervened and stated that the commission did not think that what triggered the attack was a matter of national security.
But DSP Azugu remained adamant: "It's not just for national security …. national cohesion, national unity …… because he told me that the MP had told him, if I say it here, the MP might be attacked by someone, especially when I mention it here.
"That is why I urge you to say it in camera. If this happens during your other sessions, I do not want to have a problem. "
In light of the green light given by the commission, he wrote the name of the agent and what Mr. George allegedly said to this agent to guarantee him a slap.
DSP Azugu was also asked to provide the names of all members of the mission and their service numbers, the after-action report of their mission as well as any other documentation related to the operation.
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