More than 70 AK47 assault rifles illegally stored in Alvanyo – Police

General News on Wednesday, January 16th, 2019

Source: Myjoyonline.com

2019-01-16

Police in the Volta region say they have discovered a stockpile of ammunition in the Alavanyo area in the municipality of Hohoe.

DCOP Regional Police Chief Francis Doku said more than 70 AK47 badault rifles were being stored at a location in the conflict-prone area where weapons are being manufactured.

He fears that community members will use all available means to prevent security services from seizing such ammunition because of their personal interests.

"… In firearms manufacturing, Alavanyo is at the helm of the whole country and even in West Africa … as we speak, there are people who go there to keep the base Manufacturing.

"While the weapons are exported to Alvanyo, they manufacture weapons themselves. What are they for? To go kill lawnmowers? ", He interviewed reporters at a press conference Wednesday.

Four people died last Monday following a shooting between young people from Alavanyo Dzogbedze and security officials.

Police said the victims had been victims of an exchange of gunfire between the army and unknown badailants

"Knowing that the area was prone to conflict, the local SWAT was organized and went to pick up the weapons around 3 pm on Sunday," the police commander told Joy News.

He added that the attackers may have got wind of the police operation because when the SWAT team entered the city, they were attacked by a youth who managed to take a rifle AK-47 against a number of police officers higher than that of the police.

According to his story, the police informed the military in the area who decided to recover the AK-47 rifle.

The military went to the traditional leader of Alavanyo Dzogbedze to inform him of the planned operation in the hope that he will persuade his subjects to surrender the weapons.

"The chief promised the military that he would bring the rifle himself to the barracks on Monday at 10 am," DCOP said.

But that did not happen.

DCOP Doku stated that interested parties would do their utmost to defend their position.

When asked what had prevented the police from picking up the officers and confiscating the firearms, he replied, "So, if we start picking them one by one, let's not reduce them." we do not have the numbers? … and will they do that to us? "