Residents of the Ketu South Municipality are calling on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to as a matter of urgency redeploy police from other parts of the country to replace the existing ones in the Ketu South Municipality.

Placing emphasis on Denu, Aflao and Laklevikope, the residents were of the opinion that redeploying the police officers would help mitigate the high rate of crime in the municipality.                 

The residents made the appeal when the IGP, Mohammed Ahmed Alhasan paid a courtesy call on the chiefs and people of Aflao traditional area to discuss with them ways in which to solve the problems of crime in the area.

Residents claimed they live in fear daily and their lives and that of their families are in danger because of the high crime rate recorded in the municipality.

They also accused the police of conniving with the alleged seven criminals who broke jail at dawn on Friday 13th March. They alleged that the police opened the cell doors for the prisoners to make their escape and went further to question the competence of the Aflao Police and Denu, whom they also accuse of being interested only in collecting money from drivers.        

Paramount Chief of the Aflao Traditional Area,  Torgbui Adzonunugaga Amenya Fiti, told JoyNews he was happy to have the IGP pay the area a visit.

He expressed the readiness of the chiefs and people of the traditional area to work with the police but pointed out that the high crime rate needs urgent attention by the IGP.

“I am happy to see the IGP,” he said, “but something urgent must be done about the situation to protect lives and properties in the area”.

Mr Alhasan in response called on the residents to help with information leading to the arrest of the jail breakers and any other crime related issues in the municipality, saying "the police cannot do it alone but with the collaboration of the community and the chiefs, high crime rate will be reduced."        

In related news, Ketu South Commander Augustine Luguyare, speaking to JoyNews, said photographs of the seven escapees have been reproduced and distributed to the general public, and the Togolese police service in order to improve the ongoing search for the jailbreakers.

The MCE for Ketu South, Pascal Lamprey commended the IGP for taking the time out to visit the Municipality, and for his concern. He explained that a series of discussions had been help with police leadership with the endgame being a “major shakeup in the police force”.

More men and vehicles, he said, would be brought in to assist the police in the area.

Mr Lamprey assured the residents of their safety and protection, and appealed to the public to help the police with information about the jailbreakers, as, " it will not be long [before] those criminals will be re-arrested and brought to book"