2 nomadic herdsmen escape lynching at Hweehwee
Two nomadic herdsmen believed to be of Fulani extraction narrowly escaped death on Tuesday after they were nearly lynched by an angry mob at Hweehwee, one of the villages in the Kwahu East District of the Eastern Region, where the herdsmen clashed with local farmers.
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This incident comes a day after the Eastern Regional Security Council REGSEC visited the affected communities to interact with the people, farmers, chiefs and the leadership of the Fulanis to dialogue and find lasting solutions to the reprisal attacks.
The two, Fuseini Adama 32, and Sadibe Adama, 38, were allegedly subjected to beatings after being rounded up by some youth whilst returning from the bush to the town on their motorbike at Hweehwee.
But for the timely intervention of the police patrol team which has been deployed there from the Police headquarters last week, the situation would have gotten out of hands.
Recent reprisal attacks between the nomadic herdsmen and some farmers in the Kwahu East District, which led to the death of 8 people and several others fleeing their homes and work places, has heightened tension in the area, forcing the deployment of 85 police personnel to ensure law and order.
The Eastern Regional Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Ebenezer Tetteh, who confirmed the latest incident to Citi News, said the Police operational team went through a torrid time saving the victims.
“At about 17:30 hours, the Police Patrol team returning from Sempoa area reported that, on reaching Hweehwee township, they encountered a rampaging youth numbering about 300 who were attempting to lynch two Fulani men, who were on motorbike returning from Sempoa heading towards Nkawkaw.”
“The patrol team in their bid to save the two Fulani men had it very difficult so two other teams who were on standby upon receiving the information quickly proceeded to the scene to rescue the victims.”
Asp Ebenezer Tetteh explained how the angry mob resisted the Police from saving the situation.
“The operation teams had it very hectic controlling the situation as the rampaging youth rather vented their anger on the Police and poured an itching substance “apia” on both their bodies and the vehicles.”
The District Chief Executive and the Assembly member of the area, were contacted on phone to talk to the opinion leaders in the town to calm the situation.”
Asp Ebenezer Tetteh disclosed that, the victims have been issued with Police medical forms to go to the hospital.
“The victims who were molested were released to seek medical attention at Holy Family Hospital at Nkawkaw, and have been asked to report back to the station to assist with further investigations.”
ASP Ebenezer Tetteh pleaded with the general public not to take the law into their own hands.
“I will use this medium to appeal to the general public and local residents not to take the laws into the hands. The police are here to help; and we plead that in situations like this, they should call us and we will come to take over.”
credit: Citifmonline