Some ‘Okada’ riding thugs at the weekend attacked the Director of Engineering and Mechanicals of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and his family, leading to his hospitalisation. 

Mr Moses Ahiakpornu, who was burying his late father at Kpedome near Xevi, in the Akatsi North District on Saturday, rushed out to buy medication for his sick son, but was accosted by the thugs, who assaulted him together with his Cameroonian wife, Swiss sister-in-law and two sons. 

Narrating his ordeal, the victim said the group had packed their motorbikes in the middle of the main Ho-Aflao road under construction, obstructing the traffic of heavy trucks plying that corridor, and beaconed the group to realign their packing, which incurred the displeasure of the gang leader, only known as Kwashie. 

He said Kwashie had earlier on Friday threatened him, accusing him of molesting him when he was growing up and that it was his time to ensure justice for that past incident. 

The victim narrated that after returning from the chemist, Kwashie and his group followed him to his house, issuing various forms of threats, including death, to avenge their past encounter. 

Mr Ahiakpornu said, sensing danger, he drove to a Police post to seek refuge, but that didn’t yield the needed response. 

He said the thugs pounced on the occupants of his vehicle and assaulted them, including his sons, who fell into a state of comatose from the brutal beatings of those rogues using blows, stones and clubs, before eventually bolting. 

He said the devastated family, who attempted to seek urgent medical attention, were forced out of his car into a commercial vehicle, upon the instruction of the Akatsi Police Commander, on the assumption of extracting a statement from him. 

Mr Ahaikpornu said he pleaded with the Commander to be allowed to rush to the hospital for medical attention because his condition was getting worse, but the Commander insisted that Kwashie had earlier launched a report with the police of a purported attack on him by the victim.  

The victim, who is partially paralysed and was admitted to Saint Anthony’s Hospital at Dzodze, has been transferred to the 37 Military Hospital to seek expedited medical attention. 

Mr Paschal Agbagbah, the Volta Regional NADMO Director, who confirmed the assault on his national officer, told the GNA that the suspects, who were subsequently arrested, had been granted bail, while Police investigations were ongoing. 

Meanwhile, GNA’s calls to the Akatsi Police Commander failed to elicit a response.