Five Fulani herdsmen arrested for farmer’s murder

Five suspected Fulani herdsmen have been arrested by the police over the murder of a 58-year old farmer at Mpesempese in the Agogo portion of the Afram Plains.

They are Mohammed Bashiru, 29, Osmanu Kalui, 20, Abubakar Bukari, 22, Osamanu Batalo and Mallam Mohammed Abubakar, both aged 33.

The police retrieved from them a shot gun, a sharp knife and machete.

The deceased, Kwadwo Villa, was allegedly shot and killed in his shop in the full glare of some family members on January 14 at about 1930 hours.

The suspects were picked up in a joint police/military operation in six cluster farming communities in the plains, Nyamebekyere, Abrewapon, Mpesempese, Kowireso, Asaretoase and Makaila.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Patrick Timbilla, the Ashanti Regional Commander, told a press briefing in Kumasi that his killers, believed to be Fulani had gone to his shop under the pretext of buying cigarette.

The deceased was said to have told them he did not have cigarette and they requested for water.

The Regional Commander as the late Villa organized to get them the water they pulled a gun and without provocation shot at him from close range, killing him instantly.

The assassins fled after the dastardly act.

DCOP Timbilla called on family members who witnessed the incident to cooperate with police investigations to bring the criminals to justice.

He announced a cash reward of between GH¢1,000.00 and GH¢2,000.00 to people who volunteered useful information on the murder to the police.

He appealed for calm and restraint to help preserve the peace and security in the area.

DCOP Timbilla advised the media to be more circumspect in their reportage of issues about revenge attacks by the Fulani and the local people to prevent the situation from escalating.

Between December 26, last year and January 14, 2012, two people had been killed in the area.

Source: GNA