Ejura in the Ashanti Region has descended into Ejura Chaos after some angry youths set a police station and adjoining quarters ablaze following the death of a young man in custody.
The deceased, who was arrested for allegedly buying a stolen phone, was found dead in the cell early this morning under mysterious circumstances, adding to the Ejura Chaos.
The police, without consulting the family, transferred the body to the Mampong morgue, sparking outrage among the Zongo community.
Tensions escalated when the deceased’s family, upon visiting the police station to follow up on the case, discovered he had died and was already in the morgue. News of the incident quickly spread, prompting an enraged crowd from the Zongo community to storm the police station. In a dramatic turn of events, they freed all detainees before torching the building and its adjoining staff quarters, reducing the facilities to ashes. This added to the unfolding Ejura Chaos.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with plumes of smoke filling the air and frantic residents scrambling to retrieve their loved ones from the cells. Some residents claim the police failed to provide adequate information about the circumstances of the man’s death, fueling suspicions of foul play. “This is unacceptable. We need answers, not secrecy,” an irate youth leader remarked, referencing the Ejura Chaos.
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) have since been deployed to restore calm in the town. Soldiers are patrolling the streets to prevent further destruction and ensure public safety during the Ejura Chaos.
Meanwhile, the Ashanti Regional Police Command has appealed for calm and pledged to investigate the matter thoroughly.
This incident has reignited longstanding tensions between security forces and the Zongo community, which has often accused the police of profiling and mistreatment.
Some civil society groups have called for an independent probe into the young man’s death to ensure justice and rebuild trust between law enforcement and residents.