Shoot to kill–The Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC), will not hesitate to issue a shoot to kill order if herdsmen continue to allow their cattle to destroy farm produce.
That’s according to Ashanti Regional Minister, Hon. Simon Osei Mensah.
The REGSEC Chairman however, noted that the order could be the last resort after a planned installation of cattle ranches by government to help deal with the herdsmen and cattle menace in the region yields no positive results.
The former MP for Bosomtwe also blamed cattle owners in the enclave for fueling violent attacks on local farmers describing the act as unfortunate.
“Who buys guns for the herdsmen? I don’t blame the herdsmen. I blame the cattle owners. Why do they buy guns for the herdsmen? Are the herdsmen hunters?” the Minister who was speaking on a local radio station in Kumasi queried.
When asked about his plans to quell the frequent clashes the regional minister said “I suppose you are well aware that the government is acquiring lands where the cattle will be held. Some have already been established in the Eastern region. Why wouldn’t they place their cattle in these places but insist on allowing their cattle to cause troubles? We are praying some of these enclosures be built in the Ashanti region. Once this is done, I will not hesitate to order a shoot to kill order if cattle are still found loitering” he said.
He was incensed that some people believe they are untouchable and are causing problems for others.
“I believe there are more cattle around the Tamale area than all of Ashanti region but we don’t hear any misunderstanding erupting due to cattle destroying farm produce of locals. They keep their cattle very well”, he continued.
Mr. Osei Mensah’s remarks comes after two separate attacks on cattle-herders left three herdsmen and several cattle dead last week at Samso near Drobonso in the Sekyere Afram Plains district of the Ashanti Region.
The clashes follow the murder of the security man of a local plantation firm at Agogo earlier this month. There are fears the attack on the herdsmen could be retaliation by the farmers who suspect the security man was killed by the nomadic herders.
An emergency joint District Security Council(DISEC) meeting was also held today as part of measures to resolve a protracted farmer-herder clashes in some parts of the Ashanti Region.
DCEs for Kumawu, Sekyere Afram Plains, Asante Akyem North and Sekyere Central, the worst affected assemblies, are expected furnish the Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC) with a report after the meeting.
Police search for suspects
Meanwhile police in the Ashanti Region are on a manhunt for some persons who allegedly attacked and killed the three herdsmen and are appealing to the public for information.
Effiduase Divisional Police Commander, ACP Philip Asante said two of the deaths were recorded on Thursday morning after unidentified gunmen attacked the herdsmen and their cattle at a camp in the bushes of Samso, killing two on the spot.
The bodies have been identified by the nomadic herdsmen community in the Ashanti region.
“We are putting things together and we’ve gone to the scene. The case is under investigation. We want to find out who did that action and bring the person to book.”
He said the bodies of the deceased have been deposited at the Agogo Presbyterian Hospital morgue for autopsy and investigations.
Scanfarms Ghana appeals for protection after herdsmen allegedly killed employee
The management of Scanfarms Ghana Limited had earlier appealed to the government to provide it with security following the alleged murder of one of its employees, a security guard.
Management and staff of the company were left traumatized and terrified after the stabbing of the security guard earlier in January 2019 by some herdsmen.
The Head of Administration at Scanfarms Ghana Limited, Edward Gyebi in an interview said the company is currently helpless.
“Currently we are all frightened. No one can go there because we are wondering who will be the next. We can’t go there but it is our farm. We don’t know whether to lay off the workers because no one wants to go there. The security men are all down. We are harvesting our Sorghum now so now who will go and harvest it. It is about 105 hectares,” he said.
-Shoot to kill-
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