Asabee supporter dies of 'BNI blows'

NPP bigwigs have joined preparations to bury a young man who died Friday morning from beatings he allegedly suffered at the hands of officials of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) Thursday evening. Thirty-year-old Salifu Ahmed was said to be among a group of New Patriotic Party supporters who thronged the offices of the BNI Thursday evening to solidarise with the former Information Minister Stephen Asamoah Boateng who was being held by the BNI for interrogation. The gathering got rowdy, throwing stones at security officials and banging on the doors of the BNI to demand the release of Mr. Boateng. Security agents chased the crowd away after the situation degenerated into scuffles during which the police are said to have shot teargas while other heavily built men suspected to be BNI operatives beat some of the protestors. Salifu Ahmed managed to get home after the beatings and woke up in the morning complaining of pains in the lower abdomen and difficulty in breathing. He managed to perform ablution in readiness for muslim prayers but collapsed thereafter and died while being rushed to the hospital. Joy News’ Kawku Obeng Adjei who reported from the home of the late Ahmed, where the family was preparing the body for burial in keeping with muslim traditions, said the mood in the area was one of sadness and sorrow. He said family members were in utter shock since according to them at the time the deceased left for the gathering, he did not show any signs of ill health. Meanwhile, the General Secretary of the NPP, Nana Ohene Ntow, who was among the mourners has called for a thorough investigation into the young man’s death. He said it was absolutely important to establish the actual circumstances surrounding the death of Ahmed, whom family members describe as calm and reserved. Meanwhile information reaching Myjoyonline indicates the Accra Regional Police Command has ordered a freeze on the burial of the late Salifu Ahmed to pave way for investigations. Myjoyonline.com/Ghana