Irate Nyanshegu youth on rampage
A number of houses belonging to alleged witches and wizards were yesterday razed down by some irate youth at Nyanshegu, a suburb of Tamale.
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Some of the alleged witches and wizards were also dragged to a Mallam in the community to be exorcised.
A team of policemen sent to the area to restore calm and order was chased out of the community by the youth.
However, a combined team of police and military personnel later returned to restore order.
Casualties
As of the time of filing this report, no casualty had been recorded, while no arrest had been made.
As of 12.30 p.m. when the Daily Graphic visited the area, calm had been restored, while there was a heavy security presence.
Some people were seen standing in groups discussing the matter.
Accusations
Information gathered by the Daily Graphic during the visit to the community indicated that the youth chased out the occupants of the houses to the chief’s palace before burning down the houses.
The youth are said to be demanding that the chief banish the alleged witches and wizards from the community because they cast evil spells on the community and destroy the fortunes of illustrious youth of the area.
A young man whose name has been withheld for security reasons told the Daily Graphic in an interview that his parents had been notified yesterday morning that they were wanted at the chief’s palace.
He said they were not given any reason for the invitation, only for them to be charged with witchcraft on arrival at the palace.
“The residents accused my parents of witchcraft and when we were led to the chief’s palace and later came out, some of the angry youth had started destroying our property,” the young man said.
A man from the chief’s palace who volunteered to speak to the Daily Graphic on condition of anonymity said the agitation had begun on Thursday night but the youth were prevailed upon not to take the law into their own hands.
He said the elders were surprised to hear that the youth had started burning the houses of alleged witches and wizards after chasing them into the chief’s palace.
As of the time of filing this report at 2 p.m. yesterday, some of the alleged witches had sought refuge in the chief’s palace to prevent them from being harmed.