Police in Tamale have arrested the ring leader of a vigilante group who invaded the offices of the CEO of the Tamale Teaching Hospital, last Monday.
Baba Alhassan was picked up Thursday morning, a day after four others who were earlier arrested were released for lack of evidence.
He is likely to be charged with unlawful entry, offensive conduct and assault.
Northern Region Police PRO Mohammed Tanko told Joy News investigations are still ongoing to arrest accomplices in Monday’s attack.
Read: NPP Kandahar Boys chase away Tamale Teaching Hospital CEO
Baba Alhassan and his men in mufti, with bags strapped behind them, invaded the offices of the Tamale Teaching Hospital in vigilante style and instructed the CEO of the hospital Dr David Zaawumya Akolbila to walk out and handover the keys.
He did without question. The men who are believed to be members of the NPP vigilante group are ruthless with a notorious history of invasion, assault on political appointees they claim are corrupt.
Dr Akolbila’s crimes the group claims are no different from the political appointees before him- corruption, mismanagement and misappropriation of funds.
They gave no evidence for their allegations except their word.
With all the impunity, they walked Akolbila and his staff out of the offices and locked them out.
They later on spoke to the media demanding the dismissal of the hospital CEO and further warned they will return if the new appointee is corrupt.
Strike
Alarmed by the impunity of the group, Health workers at the Tamale Teaching Hospital declared a strike.
Except for emergency cases and patients already in the facility, the doctors, nurses and paramedics declined to attend to all OPD services.
The workers say they no longer feel safe in the hospital and want the police to assure them of their security by arresting the perpetrators.
On Thursday, Joy News’ Tamale correspondent Martina Bugri reported health workers are still turning away patients.
Their strike is still continuing unabated until their concerns have been resolved completely.
Bugri said residents have decided to visit satellite hospitals in the Municipality.
She said chiefs and opinion leaders are meeting hospital authorities to find out the way forward.
The Northern Region Minister Salifu Saeed has assured of better protection for them.
Read: Many stranded as doctors, nurses withdraw services at Tamale Teaching Hospital
According to him, they are considering building a police post in the hospital’s premises to provide 24-hour surveillance.
Kandahar denial
The notorious vigilante group in the Northern Region affiliated to the governing party denied any involvement in Monday’s attack.
They had previously attacked many allied state institutions, locked up offices and assaulted CEOs but swore they had no hand in the latest attack.
On Wednesday, they held a press conference demanding the immediate release of four of their members who they said were wrongfully arrested.
The Interior Minister Ambrose Dery called their bluff.
He told Joy News the investigations will continue and if the four men are found culpable they will be prosecuted.
He cited instances in the Ashanti Region where members of vigilante groups have been arrested and successfully prosecuted.
He said the same thing will happen in this case.
A few hours later, the four men were released by the police for lack of evidence.
However, the Tamale Police have since arrested a prime suspect who they will be arraigned before court.
“This morning we managed to arrest Baba Alhassan from his house. Currently, he is being cautioned by investigators. We are looking at offensive conduct, unlawful entry and assault for now. Maybe some charges might come later.
He said they are looking for his accomplices and will arrest them.
Source: myjoyonline.com