Founder of the Savannah Centre for Contemporary Art (SCCA), Red Clay Studio, and Nkrumah Voli-ni in Tamale Ibrahim Mahama, has been allegedly assaulted by IGPs special operations team also known as Black Maria in Tamale.
He was beaten for filming the Black Maria team as they unsuccessfully forced their way through a traffic jam while on a mission.
Ibrahim Mahama is currently receiving treatment at a private hospital in Tamale.
Speaking exclusively to 3news.Com, Ibrahim Mahama described the assault as an abuse on his rights.
“They broke into our bus, forced me to open my phone and deleted the pictures. From the beginning to the end, everything was an assault,” he alleged.
One of the victims Issah Ibrahim Mohammed, who recounted the incident to 3news, said Ibrahim Mahama together with other victims were returning from the Eid prayers when they were caught up in a traffic jam around Mariam Hotel junction.
“The Police (Black Maria) team with their sirens tried to pass through the traffic by clearing the way but were not successful. After several attempts, they began confronting the motorists which resulted in physical assault on the civilians,” he explained.
According to him, Ibrahim Mahama and other people began recording the scene, and upon realizing that they were recording, the police forcefully entered their bus and demanded they deleted the videos.
“They beat us up and forced my boss Ibrahim Mahama to open his password and delete the videos. They took us to Sakasaka Police Station and beat us up again,” Ibrahim Mahommed further stated.
Ibrahim Mahama and the other injured persons were taken to Habannah Hospital in Tamale for treatment.
Ibrahim Mahama lost two of his front teeth as a result of the attack.
Commenting on the development, Northern Regional Minister, Ali Adolf Mboridiba, said the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) will not tolerate any acts of lawlessness.
“We cannot tolerate this kind of lawlessness in the region and anyone found culpable will be dealt with” he assured.
“The Police command is not aware of any Black Maria team in the region and this extent of lawlessness will not be tolerated. Ibrahim Mahama is a diplomat and an attack on him won’t be tolerated,” the Regional Minister stated.
Police in the region have commenced investigations into the matter.
