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Seasoned Journalist, Kweku Baako Jnr. has scolded the joint Military and Police forces over the use of live bullets to disperse protesters at Ejura on Tuesday, June 29, 2021.

The protesters are said to have been in the middle of a funeral service for a resident named Ibrahim Mohammed, alias 'Kaaka', who is known to be a social activist in the community and met his untimely death after a mob reportedly assaulted him.

A Military and Police personnel were dispatched to the community but fired gunshots into the protesters killing two persons namely Abdul Nasir Yussif and Murtala Mohammed and injured four others.

Discussing the issue on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo', Mr. Baako bemoaned the Military intrusion to the vicinity to supposedly control the crowd.

He stressed those who were in command of the field operations must be called for interrogations.

" . . I'm uncomfortable with what has happened. I think it was completely avoidable. It was untidy and somebody somewhere, within the hierarchy of the security agencies, those on the field will have some good questions to answer. I'm talking of those in control and command of the field operation," he said.

He, however, admitted he doesn't have adequate facts on the operation but, to him, ''even if I had it, there's nothing that will make me agree with the Military's intrusion especially their posture, the shootings with live bullets. Look, we shouldn't rationalize it at all".

"Live bullets to go and confront an unruly or rowdy youth throwing stones? It is disproportionate! Unless, somebody can tell me maybe somebody fired also from among the unruly youth, then you can talk about self-defence in collective reaction, but I have my doubts that even if that happened. Because looking at the videos circulating around, there is no incident which show someone on the other side had an armed capability," he added.

He condemned the security approach saying, "these (protesters) are not armed robbers; they're not terrorists. They are some youth demonstrating even if unlawfully and you call in, then that's completely out of proportion. It is disproportionate! . . . Rampaging youth throwing stones, that is what has happened. Disproportionate response! So, they went there armed to the teeth with live bullets; I'm telling there's something wrong then . . . That is not part of the rules of engagement in crowd control.''

Mr. Baako stressed it was a wrong move to have involved the Military.

"I've been part of mass movements, street protest and I've seen it all under constitutional and unconstitutional; so both. I've experienced both. I am saying that this, particular incident, completely avoidable especially the fatalities . . . The Police have been trained to deal with the civilian population whether it is law and order breakdown or not. So, psychologically, there's that some psychological angle. You know this is a funeral. The people are in procession to go and bury somebody. Already, there is anger and tension, so the way you handle it is important'', he said.

He also threw shots at who gave the order for the Military deployment.

"So, those top guys who gave the green light, did they appreciate what they were going to encounter?'', he fumed.

Watch video below