Prime News Ghana

Berekum residents arm themselves to evict Fulani herdsmen

By Maame Aba Afful
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Hundreds of residents at Berekum in the Brong Ahafo Region have reportedly armed themselves in preparation for a full-blown war as they forcefully evict nomadic herdsmen popularly called Fulani.

The indigenes have after serving the Fulani herdsmen a one-month notice of eviction threatened to chase them out if they fail to comply.

This follows the deaths of some 17 people in clashes between the nomadic herdsmen and indigenes in the Bono Ahafo Region in the last two weeks.

The deceased persons comprise 13 nomads and four locals. At least 13 others have also sustained varying degrees of injuries.

A number of houses have been torched within the first half of September alone in the Kintampo Municipality.

Both the indigenes and the Fulani herdsmen are living in fear of attacks. The major flash-points include Agege, Kawompe, Kunsu, Gulumpe, Atta Akura and Babatokuma.

The Assemblyman for Kunsu Electoral Area, Martin Donyina alleged some residents attacked the Fulani herdsmen and burnt down their homes.

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"They were attacked just like that. They just killed them and burnt all their houses and their clothing, everything. Their foodstuffs, everything is spoilt and now they are hanging around," he said.

One of the Fulani herdsmen, Abdulai confirmed the assertion of the Assemblyman, adding, the residents attacked them and killed their cattle. 

Clashes between the two groups have claimed lives and property in Berekum, Kintampo and Techiman Municipalities as well as Sene East District.

There are fears of an escalation of violence, as both sides plan retaliations in other communities where there are herdsmen.

The situation has put the District Security Committee in Bono Ahafo on high alert, as indicated by Municipal Chief Executive, Michael Sarkodie Baffoe.

He says the assembly is overstretched, having to spend a good amount of its resources to manage the nomadic herdsmen issue, in addition to chieftaincy matters.

Read also:  I will end fulani menace - Akufo-Addo

www.primenewsghana.com/ Ghana News