Mr. Emmanuel Quashie, popularly known as “Okotor” and the Unit Committee Chairman of Wassa Ateiku in the Wassa East District of the Western Region, and his 10-year-old son narrowly escaped death after a shocking gun attack at his residence.
In an interview with the media, Mr. Quashie recounted the terrifying incident, which occurred last night around 3:30 a.m. He reported hearing a series of gunshots outside his home at the Wassa Ateiku New Site, where he resides.
Curious and alarmed, he looked out of his window and identified two men on a motorcycle, whom he recognized as Katadafour Homia and his brother, locally known as “Oga Naija.” The assailants allegedly stopped at his premises and began firing shots directly into his house through another window, narrowly missing him.
According to Mr. Quashie, the attack was deliberate and appeared to be a targeted attempt on his life and that of his family. Fortunately, he and his 10-year-old son managed to take cover, escaping the bullets. However, the gunmen fled the scene before the police could arrive.
He narrated that the ordeal could be linked to an intense chieftaincy dispute in the community between the incumbent chief and a self-acclaimed chief whose name he withheld for security reasons. He believes the attack might be a spillover from the tensions surrounding that dispute, which has been causing division in the community for some time now.
Mr. Quashie further explained that upon hearing gunshots earlier in the middle of the town at dawn, he immediately alerted the Wassa Ateiku police commander. However, shortly after notifying the police, he was shocked to hear fresh gunshots right around his own residence, suggesting that the attackers may have deliberately targeted him.
Surprisingly, Mr. Quashie revealed that he did not initially realize that bullets had struck his home until the next morning when his 10-year-old son noticed that some stones had hit their window. Upon closer inspection, they realized those were indeed bullet holes, which confirmed how close they had come to being hit.
The incident has since thrown his family into a state of shock and fear. His wife and other children are said to be living in constant anxiety, unsure whether it is safe to remain in their home. The psychological trauma on his 10-year-old son, who witnessed the shooting firsthand, could have long-lasting emotional consequences that may affect his upbringing and education.
The impact of the attack is not limited to Mr. Quashie’s family alone but extends to the larger Wassa Ateiku community. Residents are now living in fear, realizing that if such a daring attack could happen to a prominent community leader, then no one is truly safe. This has led to heightened anxiety, with some families considering relocating to safer areas.
Mr. Quashie is now calling on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and other relevant security stakeholders to, as a matter of urgency, intervene and curb the situation before it escalates into something more dangerous. He believes the situation, if not controlled immediately, could breed lawlessness, disturb the peace, and plunge Wassa Ateiku into chaos.
