MILITARY AND POLICE CLAMP DOWN ON CRIMINALS (PAGE 35, DEC 7)

A joint police and military swoop at the Jamboree area in the Wa municipality, has led to the arrest of 10 suspected drug peddlers and criminals who are reported to be terrorising innocent residents in the vicinity.
The suspects are Yaw Ketewa 37, unemployed; Adamu Emmanuel, 22, a student; Issah Dalifu, 35, a galamsey miner; Salifu Braimah, 45, a farmer, and Peter Saali, 37, a mason.
The rest are Witoh Isahaque, 50; Zakaria Seidu, 54; Ibrahim Seidu, 45, all drivers, Masaud Kaleonaa, 21, an electrician, and Dauda Yahaya, 51, a mechanic.
Briefing the Daily Graphic, the Upper West Regional Police Commander, ACP Alex Bedie, said following persistent reports of threats and harassment by residents, the police and the military decided to mount an operation in the area.
He said the police with support from the military stormed the area last Tuesday, leading to the arrest of the 10 suspects.
He added that other suspects managed to flee from the scene upon seeing the security personnel.
ACP Bedie said some of the suspects were arrested while they were openly smoking dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp while others were selling the stuff.
He said a search conducted on the suspects in the area also led to the discovery of quantities of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, five motorcycles, four bicycles and eight mobile phones, some of which were left behind by those who took to their heels.
Mr Bedie said the police were conducting further investigations into the issue after which the suspects would be processed for court.
He cautioned all citizens in the region to learn to live within the confines of the law, since the security apparatus would surely come after them when they broke the law.
Mr Bedie indicated that the operation was the first of a series of such exercises to be carried out throughout the region to ensure a crime-free and a peaceful Christmas season.
It would be recalled that a few weeks ago, a police constable who was on patrol duties within the Jamboree area was attacked by some unsuspecting people and dumped into a nearby pond.