In a recent viral video, a police officer was seen pleading with a civilian during a standoff in a forest in Ghana.
The civilian in question was identified as the leader of a gang in the Axim area. While the officer’s actions have received some criticism from the public, retired Superintendent of Police, Peter Lanchene Toobu, has come out in support of the officer’s actions.
Toobu speaking to Neat FM commended the officer for his smart thinking and emphasized that the job of policing can put one in a situation where pulling a trigger to defend oneself is not always the ideal solution.
He noted that the officer’s decision to kneel and plead with the civilian was a wise move in a situation where pulling a trigger could have led to a mob attack.
He stresses the importance of using common sense and doing the right thing in difficult situations, rather than resorting to violence.
The viral video shows a gang of men confronting a group of police officers for attempting to arrest their leader.
The leader of the gang accused the officers of seeking to arrest him after he had paid them a bribe. One of the officers is seen in the video going on his knees to plead with the gang leader amidst threats.
The Ghana Police Service later released a statement, stating that it had received a report on March 28, 2023, that a group of officers from the Axim Police Command had been attacked by the gang in question.
The police conducted an operation that resulted in the arrest of four members of the gang, while the leader, Kwame Ani, remains at large and is currently on the police’s wanted list.