Constable Eugene Yelnona of the National Protection Unit (NPU) at the Police Headquarters, allegedly committed suicide yesterday by shooting himself with his AK riffle, in Accra
Constable Yelnona, who was on guard duty at the house of Mr Gilcrest Olympio, a former Togolese opposition leader, in Accra, was found dead with gunshot wound in a washroom at the residence.
A police source at the Accra Regional Police Command confirmed the tragedy to the Ghanaian Times, in Accra,yesterday, stating that the body has been conveyed to the Police Hospital mortuary awaiting autopsy.
The Ghanaian Times gathered that the deceased was reported to have asked for leave extension to attend hospital, but the request was denied by his superiors.
The late Constable Yelnona was said to be unwell for some time now, and had to take leave to get medical attention.
In a statement issued by the Director of thePolice Public Affairs Directorate, Supt Sheila Abayie-Buckman confirmed the death of Constable Yelnona, stationed at the NPU, who was found dead at his duty post with gunshot wound, on Monday morning.
She indicated that investigations had commenced to unravel the circumstances of his death and that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Crime Scene and Homicide teams had already visited the scene.
Sup Abayie-Buckman stated that the family of the deceased has been informed about the incident, and urged the public to be sensitive to the bereaved, and asked journalists to be circumspect in their reportage orcommentary as investigation was ongoing.
This follows a similar incident three days ago,in which the Half Assin District Police Commander, Superintendent of Police (Supt) Cyprian MacarthyZenge, committed suicide in his room in Jomoro Municipality of the Western Region.
The body of the Police Commander was found dead with gunshot wounds at his residence on Saturday at about 7am.
BY ANITA NYARKO-YIRENKYI
