- Safiu Kehinde
The Ghana Police Service has arrested the man who fired gun to welcome Nigerian afrobeat singer, Ahmed Ololade, popularly known as Asake.
The man, identified as Abubakar Sadick, was arrested over unlawful possession and discharge of firearms during Asake’s visit to the El-Wak stadium in Accra on the 28th of December.
A now viral video shared on X captured moment Sadick, who is popularly known by the locals as Cyborg pulled out a semi-automatic rifle in the crowd and gave Asake a gun salute.
While the appearance of the gun had initially sparked fear among the crowd, Sadick could be heard urging them to keep their voice down as he told them he only wants to give Asake, who he described as his brother from another mother, a gun salute to honour his presence.
“Keep your voice down. Please it is not allowed in Ghana now, but I’m pleading with my boss, John Dramani Mahama, and Ibrahim and Muntaqa that my brother from another mother come. I just want to give a gun shot for him.” He had said in the video before firing in the air.
The Ghanaian Police would however secure his arrest as confirmed in a statement issued on their official X handle on Tuesday.
The rifle identified as Derya MK-12 with registration number 22-GHA-1162 was recovered from him.
Sadick was subsequently detained following his arrest with the police disclosing that he will be prosecuted at the conclusion of investigation.
The police issued a note of warning that possessing a registered firearm does not give the holder right to discharge it indiscriminately.
Meanwhile, Asake had in the wake of Sadick’s arrest paid a visit to Ghana President, John Dramani, who asked if he was the one offered a gun salute.
The artist, in defence of Sadick, told the Ghanaian President that the man had only done the gun salute out of excitement.
“I heard that they arrested him. Let me just say we were all just happy and excited.” He said.
Mahama, in response, maintained the stance of the Ghanaian law against such action.
“The law is the law.” The President said before taking pictures with the artist and his crew.