The Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, has condemned the use of excessive force by the Police Service when they clashed with the youth of Lamashegu on February 13.

In a circular sighted by MyJoyOnline.com, Mr. Iddrisu noted that the Police have the right to shoot and kill under extraordinary circumstances.

However, the Sunday incident, the Tamale South MP stated, does not fall "under extraordinary circumstances to warrant such reckless and irresponsible use of force."

Mr. Haruna Iddrisu expressed worry over the surge in the use of force by the Police in Tamale Metropolis whenever tension mounts.

This is the third time in two years that live ammunition has been used by the Police during a clash with protesters in the locality; leading to several deaths, according to him.

"We do not encourage individuals to resolve grievances by resorting to unrest, though protest within the ambit of the law in a responsible manner is allowed. However, the recurrent acts of attack on the inhabitants of Tamale, through the use of live ammunition by the Police to quell disturbances that results in loss of lives and injury to innocent bystanders is unacceptable and is to be denounced."

"This, unfortunately, appears to be a growing trend, the third time in two years in the Tamale Metropolis. The Police have no right to shoot and kill, except under extraordinary circumstances," he noted.

His concerns follow the death of a resident after a young man who was pursued by the Police dashed into the Lamashe-Naa’s Palace to avoid being apprehended by security personnel.

The Police are said to have stormed into the Palace.

The youth pelted stones at the Police who in turn fired gunshots to disperse the crowd. As a result, one life was lost with seven persons sustaining various degrees of injury.

The deceased has been identified as 18-year-old Abdul Hakim Yakubu. He is one of the Junior High School Students of the Umar Al Mutar who just wrote his Basic School Certificate Examination (B.E.C.E).

According to Haruna Iddrisu, the Police's decision to storm the Palace was unnecessary and amounts "to indiscretion and disrespect for our time-tested traditions and norms."

The Tamale South MP explained that places of worship and palaces of traditional rulers have served as places of refuge for individuals under pursuit for any offense or reason.

"When a suspected culprit under pursuit flees to a chief’s palace, natural wisdom should instruct that such a person is running for protection."

He, therefore, averred that the Police "should have exercised restraint" rather than storming into the Palace, especially when "Lamashe Naa is one of the respected chiefs of Tamale and Dagbon."

Meanwhile, the Minority Leader has called on the Police to take up a full-scale investigation; and the government to accept responsibility for the urgent medical treatment and attention of those affected.