Police have arrested three people and are looking for more in connection with violent attacks on the Savannah Region’s Mempeasem and Lukula communities by opposing factions in land and chieftaincy disputes.
According to the police, on May 30, 2023, a gang of about fifty people invaded the Mempeasem neighbourhood and kidnapped a 50-year-old man.
When the police responded to the attack, the gang fled into the bush.
The kidnapped victim was rescued, and the police recovered one (1) AK-47 weapon, 14 rounds of ammunition, seven (7) motorbikes, and two (2) bicycles from the scene of the incident.
“A search for the suspects in the area resulted in the recovery of a bag containing 240 AK-47 ammunition,” police said in a statement.
“On 1st June 2023, the Police, while on patrols within the communities, responded to another distress call of an attack by another gang in the Lukula community.”
When the suspects saw the police, they opened fire on them.
The police responded quickly and were successful in apprehending three of the suspects, namely Razak Sulemana, Musah Shanun, and Karim Abdul Rafiuw.
“The three suspects, who sustained gunshot wounds during their arrest, are currently receiving treatment at a medical facility,” police added.
“A search of them resulted in the recovery of one (1) pump action gun, two (2) single barrel guns, one long knife, 80 live cartridges, and some talismans and cowries.”
After restoring calm in the area, the police stated that they had information that an 81-year-old man from the Lukula community had been shot by the rampaging gang on his farm.
The police went to the farm and took him to the hospital with the help of his children, where he was pronounced dead by the authorities.
The body was later taken to the hospital for preservation and autopsy.
“Following the encounter with the suspects and subsequent arrests, some individuals suspected of sympathising with those arrested attacked the Daboya Police Station, causing damage to accident cars parked at the station and some louvre blades within the barracks.”
The police, on the other hand, resisted the attack and took command of the situation.”
“Calm has since been restored and security has been strengthened in Daboya and its surrounding communities to forestall further attacks. Efforts are currently ongoing to get the perpetrators, including those who attacked the Police Station, arrested to face justice.”
