Family of one of the two Ghanaian drivers killed by suspected terrorists near the Burkina Faso-Mali border say they are yet to hear any concrete action from authorities days after their death.
The family members say they are still in shock.
The deceased, Mouhamed Moumen and Suleiman Gariba, who belong to the Joint Association of port Transport Union, were killed at the checkpoint last Sunday with four Malian security personnel and a civilian on their routine checks by suspected Boko Haram terrorists.
[contextly_sidebar id=”t7kZNGj5qJ1i4QbPCbWw3wOId0VGyTJ5″]Jafar Haruna who is a brother of the deceased, Suleiman Gariba has told Citi News that, the wife and two children left behind are yet to come to terms with the death.
“I woke up and my junior brother confirmed the death to me. I was very shocked but I have nothing to do. The news was shocking. The very day he moved out, we left home together but left him at Offinso. That was the last time I saw him. It is not easy, but we are managing else we will keep getting worried.”
“The Ghana Ambassador to Mali, Ghana Trooping Council and the Harbour Authority have all called me. They were asking for information on my brother which I have given. They promised to get back to me but they haven’t done that yet. My brother has a wife and two children who are too young; they don’t know what is going on-they might just be feeling it in their body,” he noted.
How the two died
The Acting Chairman of the Joint Association of Port Transport Union, Alhaji Shamsu Baba Yaro who confirmed the killing to Citi News when they stopped at a security barrier near the Burkina Faso to Mali border in a town called Koury to settle their usual travel arrangement fee of CFA 1,000.
According to a colleague driver who had been asked by the Joint Association of Port Union (JAPTU) to go and verify the situation and protect the goods, the security agencies demanded additional CFA 1,000 from the two drivers who refused to pay.
They then moved to the Police Officers who were close to the barrier to negotiate the fee.
While negotiating, armed men described by the contact as alleged members of the Boko Haram terrorist group, attacked the drivers as well as the other security officers at the barrier.
Instantly, seven people which comprised two Malian Gendarmerie, Two Malian Duane (Customs), 1 Civilian Assistant to the Malian Duane and the two Ghanaian Truck Drivers, were shot and killed.
The trucks were reportedly carrying floor tiles from the Port of Takoradi in Ghana that were meant to be delivered to an importer in the Malian Capital, Bamako.
The drivers were reported to have left the Takoradi ports in Ghana about 2 weeks ago.
