Tension and state of insecurity is gradually gaining momentum at Kwamepong Nkwanta, a farming community near Maame Krobo, in the Kwahu Afram Plains South District of the Eastern region.
This follows the protracted misunderstanding between the Fulani community and farmers in the area.
The unfortunate development has now resulted in the killing of two Fulani herdsmen by some unknown people at Kwamepong Nkwanta on Tuesday, last week.
The two Fulani herdsmen, who have been identified as Umaru Mamudu, 18 years and Ali Abubakari, 35 years, were found in a pool of blood without their heads and several cutlass and gun wounds on them.
The two bodies have since been taken to Donkorkrom Presbyterian Hospital morgue in the Kwahu Afram Plains North for preservation, investigation and autopsy.
In an interview with The Chronicle, Mamudu Bukari, father of the victims, said the demise of the two is a big blow to his family and the Fulani community by extension, as they are yet to come to terms with the circumstances that led to their gruesome murder.
The father of the victims indicated that the family suspects a calculated and intentional killing of his beloved children.
He has, therefore, called on the Ghana Police service to thoroughly conduct investigation into the case to apprehend the perpetrators for peace’s sake.
Giving a background to the suspected murder, the head of Fulanis at Donkorkrom, Alhaji Iddrissa Sambo, said he reported to the police some time ago that some farmers at Maame Krobo had embarked on what they called ‘shoot and kill’ exercise, aimed at killing their cattle.
Alhaji Iddrissa Sambo disclosed that a certain Mr. Akwasi Ahorku, a native of Maame Krobo, was allegedly killed during the ‘shoot and kill exercise’, a situation which residents of Maame Krobo blamed on them and, therefore, decided to attack any Fulani on sight.
The rage of the residents led to the destruction of properties belonging to the Fulanis, with the corresponding death of two Fulani boys.
According to Alhaji Iddrissa Sambo, a press conference was recently organised by a group of people calling themselves Maame Krobo Farmers Association, where they announced May 16, 2024 as the day set aside for the funeral rite of the late Akwasi Ahorku.
The Donkorkrom Fulanis chief continued that, the leadership of the group announced that before the final funeral rites of the late Akwasi is observed, the people of the area have to perform rituals to invoke the spirits of the land to avenge the death of Akwasi Ahorku.
To him, therefore, the killing of the two herdsmen and subsequent missing of their severed heads confirm their suspicion that their tribesmen have been used for rituals.
Alhaji Iddrissa Sambo has further called on the police to retrieve the heads of the two, a condition if not met would force them (Fulani leadership) not to accept the dead bodies for burial.
The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Kwahu Afram Plains South, Evans Ekyei Ntiri, together with the Eastern North Regional Police Commander, ACP Isaac Asante and his men, have since visited the bereaved family.
The two, in separate interviews, have assured the bereaved family of their commitment to arrest the faceless wicked individuals who perpetuated the hideous crime.
When contacted, the chief of Maame Krobo, Nana Nyakum-Panyin, even though confirmed the performance of rituals before the burial ceremony of the late Akwasi at the said press conference, denied having a hand in the killing of the two Fulani herdsmen.
According to him, it beats his imagination that his name would be associated with an act which was committed outside his traditional jurisdiction.
He, however, told the paper that his checks at the district Assembly indicated that the organisers of the said press conference have been invited by the District Security Committee (DISEC) to assist with investigations.
The chief of Maame Krobo hinted that the DISEC was not happy with some statements made by the organisers during the press conference, hence the invitation to assist in unraveling the circumstance that led to the death of the two.
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