Police pick suspect in Obuotabiri Shrine shooting incident
Three persons are assisting the police in their investigations into a shooting incident that resulted in the death of two persons at the Obuotabiri Shrine in Koforidua last Friday.
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Kwadwo Karikari, 58, and Princess Oyeku, seven, lost their lives in the course of a celebration marking the return of an old priest of the Obuotabiri Shrine in Koforidua.
Princess Oyeku is said to be the only child of her parents.
The bodies have been deposited at the Koforidua Regional Hospital Morgue, pending autopsy.
A 55-year-old woman, Madam Linda Boatemaa, who sustained serious injuries on her fingers, is also receiving medical treatment.
Suspects
The Deputy Eastern Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Mr James Abass, told the Daily Graphic that Kwabena Osei, 38, who is believed to have fired the shots, was in police custody.
He could, however, not immediately provide the names of the other two suspects because he was not in the office.
But he explained that the two had been part of the organisers of the event.
Mr Abass said apart from failing to comply with laid down rules and regulations on the firing of muskets, the organisers also did not notify the police in line with the Public Order Act.
“If we had been notified and we were there, we would have prevented the deaths because we would not have allowed Osei to use the gun and also load it in front of a crowd,” he explained.
According to him, the leadership of the shrine was advised by the New Juaben Municipal Police to use carbide instead of live ammunition.
He said although the organisers agreed to the use of carbide, they acted to the contrary.
Investigate
The deputy commander said the incident would be thoroughly investigated by the police and measures taken to prevent a recurrence.
