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• Some of the stray elephants and Fuseini Mbeini  (right), one of the deceased
• Some of the stray elephants and Fuseini Mbeini (right), one of the deceased

Elephants on rampage: 3 Killed, farmlands destroyed

Three persons, including a woman, have been killed by a herd of stray elephants in the Yunyoo/Nasuan District and the East Mamprusi Municipality in the North East Region after the animals raided the area last Wednesday.

One of the deceased, identified as Mr. Fuseini Mbieni, aged 42, is said to have been killed by the stray animals after he attempted to ward them off his farm. Two unidentified persons were also attacked and killed when they tried photographing the marauding animals.

The wild animals, said to have migrated from their habitation in a forest reserve in neighbouring Togo to graze in the area, also destroyed large acres of farmlands.

The Daily Graphic gathered that the aggrieved residents also launched an attack on the animals and gunned down three of them following the incident. They later shared the meat among themselves.

Briefing

The acting North East Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mr. Robert Anabiik Anmain, confirmed the incident to the Daily Graphic and said the police had commenced investigation into the matter.

He explained that the animals raided the area and when the residents attempted to drive them away to prevent them from destroying their crops, the elephants used their trunks and stamped on one of the farmers, killing him instantly.

He added that “the body of the deceased farmer was completely mutilated.”

The animals then moved to different communities and killed two persons.

He said the bodies of the deceased had since been conveyed to a morgue at the Baptist Medical Centre in Nalerigu for autopsy.

Eyewitness account

According to an eyewitness, Mr. David Kpatia, “the residents were following the stray elephants and taking some pictures. Later I saw the aggressive elephants attacking two people who were close to them. They stepped on them, killing them instantly."

He said Fuseini Mbieni, who was a resident of Gbintiri, was killed on his farm after he attempted to ward off the rampaging elephants.

This is not the first time elephants have attacked residents in the northern part of the country.

Last year, residents in the Nabdam District in the Upper East Region who farm along the wildlife forest reserve at Sakote had their farmlands destroyed by stray elephants. About 300 acres of farmlands were destroyed, with an estimated GH¢80,200 as cost of damage.

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