By Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei
Tensions boiled over in Kukurantumi in the Abuakwa North Municipality of the Eastern Region after a young man, identified as Bright, allegedly died while in police custody, sparking violent clashes between residents and the police.
According to eyewitnesses, the death of the suspect, whose circumstances remain unclear, angered local youth who accused the police of foul play. In retaliation, they stormed the Kukurantumi Police Station, setting parts of the facility ablaze in protest.
The situation escalated when reinforcement teams from the Eastern Regional Police Command’s Counter Terrorism Unit, together with officers from the Akyem Tafo Police Division, arrived at the scene. Instead of restoring calm, they were met with heavy resistance, as the irate youth pelted them with stones.
The clash left two police officers injured, both sustaining wounds after being hit by stones. They were rushed to the Community Hospital in Kukurantumi, where medical staff treated and discharged them.
In the melee, two police operational vehicles — a Toyota Tundra (GP 4004) and a Toyota Hilux belonging to the Eastern Regional Police Operations Commander — had their windshields shattered.
An angry youth said their actions were not borne out of mere lawlessness but a demand for justice.
“This is not the first time things like this are happening. We want answers for Bright’s death. The youth acted because we cannot continue to lose lives in custody without accountability,” the source said.
The incident has left the Kukurantumi community on edge, with calls mounting for a transparent investigation into the suspect’s death. Meanwhile, the police hierarchy in the Eastern Region has yet to issue a full statement, though preliminary reinforcements remain deployed in the area to contain tensions.
This development adds to a series of recent community-police clashes across the country, raising renewed concerns about police accountability, public trust, and the need for stronger engagement between law enforcement and local communities.
