POLICE NEED OUR SUPPORT (NOV 22, 2010)

THE notorious fugitive criminal and two-time jailbreaker, Johnson Kombian, is reported to have been arrested in Togo and handed over to the Ghana Police.
The 35-year-old recidivist, also known as the Nakpanduri Terror, was said to have been shot in the arm after a violent struggle between him and the Togo security officers and eventually handed over to the Ghana Police in Aflao under heavy security.
Before the police declared him wanted, with a reward of GH¢3,000 for information leading to his arrest, Kombian was alleged to have killed a number of his robbery victims in the course of his deadly and brutal operations at Nakpanduri, his last victims being two policemen, Constables Prince Agyare and Owusu Frimpong.
After killing the two constables, Kombian escaped from the country through the northern border post at the Nakpanduri area to Togo and Burkina-Faso.
The police quickly gave his picture to the Daily Graphic to publish to alert the public to his identity.
From their intelligence report on his movements, the police contacted Interpol in Burkina Faso and also made available to them Kombian’s picture.
According to police intelligence report, Kombian, described as the brain behind a number of robberies, had earlier escaped from jail at the Tamale Prison on January 15, 2010 and crossed the border into Togo from his hideout at Gomsuka, a small village near Nakpanduri.
The Ghanaian authorities again alerted Interpol in Togo and provided them with vital information on the fugitive, including his picture, to facilitate his arrest.
From our information, the Police Command in the Upper East and Upper West regions also worked in close collaboration with their counterparts in both Togo and Burkina Faso, sharing information on Kombian’s whereabouts and movements.
These operational activities of the police, we believe, eventually led to Kombian’s arrest in Togo last Friday.
We have always held the belief that the Ghana Police Service, under the leadership of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, is one of the best in Africa, if not the world.
This is not the first time they have arrested and brought back a fugitive who has broken jail and escaped into one of our neighbouring countries.
About three years ago, the police arrested and brought back a fugitive, John Malm, 12 days after he had broken jail at the Nsawam Prisons and escaped to Togo.
They have done that again, barely five weeks after Kombian had escaped from the country.
We, like all well-meaning and patriotic Ghanaians, are very much elated at the arrest of this dangerous and deadly criminal and wish to congratulate the Ghana Police Service on this splendid professional performance.
Our policemen are professionals and very competent and if they are given the necessary logistics, support and fair opportunity to exhibit their expertise, they will stand out for all to acknowledge them.
It is our expectation that the government will do everything possible to furnish the Ghana Police Service with good and durable vehicles, modern communication gadgets and the necessary tools for it to combat crime, especially armed robbery which is taking a sophisticated trend in the country.
The police need support not only from the government but also all the citizens of this country. Giving vital tip-offs that will lead to the prevention of crime and arrest of criminals will help the police to discharge their statutory duties.
Once again, we say well done to the Ghana Police Service.