The police have apprehended three individuals and are on the hunt for others who are involved in bloody attacks on two communities in the Savannah Region over land and chieftaincy disputes.
The police said that on 30th May 2023, a group of about fifty people stormed the Mempeasem community and abducted a man aged 50.
The group escaped into the bush when the police arrived at the scene of the attack.
The police rescued the abducted man and seized one (1) AK-47 weapon with 14 rounds of ammunition, seven (7) motorbikes and two (2) bicycles from the scene.
The police also found a bag containing 240 AK-47 ammunition during a search in the area for the suspects.
“On 1st June 2023, while patrolling within the communities, the police received another distress call of an attack by another group in the Lukula community”.
The suspects, who were setting houses on fire and shooting indiscriminately, fired at the police when they saw them.
The police managed to arrest three of the suspects, namely; Razak Sulemana, Musah Shanun and Karim Abdul Rafiuw.
“The three suspects, who suffered gunshot wounds during their arrest, are currently undergoing treatment at a medical facility,” the police said.
A search on them revealed one (1) pump action gun, two (2) single barrel guns, one long knife, 80 live cartridges, some talismans and cowries”.
After restoring peace in the area, the police said they got information that an 81-year-old man from the Lukula community was allegedly shot by the marauding group on his farm.
The police went to the farm with his children and took him to the hospital where he was declared dead by the authorities.
The body has been kept at the hospital for preservation and autopsy.
“Following the encounter with the suspects and their subsequent arrests, some people believed to be sympathisers of those arrested attacked the Daboya Police Station, damaging accident cars parked at the station and some louvre blades within the barracks. The police however resisted the attack and took control of the situation”.
“Peace has since been restored and security has been enhanced in Daboya and its surrounding communities to prevent further attacks. Efforts are currently underway to arrest the perpetrators, including those who attacked the Police Station, to face justice”.
