The Military High Command has withdrawn officers who were on duty when a soldier shot and killed an unarmed man in his room during a patrol in Bunkprugu in the Northern Region.

The troops were stationed in the area to enforce a 14-hour curfew following chieftaincy clashes that left two dead.

The officers have already arrived in Accra to assist with investigations into the incident.

Director of Public Affairs of the Ghana Armed Forces Colonel Aggrey-Quarshie told Joy News that as part of military regulations, the soldiers will be interrogated about the incident and handed over to the police if need be for criminal investigations.

He added that the culprits, if found will be duly punished in accordance with military policy.

Member of Parliament for the area, Solomon Namlit Boar is accusing the military of extortion and other abuses in the area.

“When they are passing and they hear a little noise, they jump into the house and ask of those who are making the noise and when they come out, they [soldiers] tell them to give them money.”

Residents who are unable to give them money are threatened and residents are compelled to find money wherever they can to give to the soldiers, he added.

He said the soldiers – who are supposed to protect life and property cannot be allowed to torment the lives of residents in such manner.

“Nobody is happy that there is always a problem in this region but we are working hard to ensure that these things are nipped in the bud. However, we cannot sit down and allow some miscreants who are paid to protect life and property to descend to the gutters and be killing people anyhow. It is very unacceptable.”

However the military says the claims are fabricated and only aimed at frustrating the officers out of the area.

Colonel Aggrey-Quarshie said the residents' actions must be questioned because it is likely that they have gone against rules set by the curfew.