Arrests Made Following Mempeasem And Lukula Attacks

The police have said three persons have been arrested following violent attacks on two at Mempeasem and Lukula communities in the Savannah Region.

The suspects were arrested on June 1 while they were on a rampage, burning houses and shooting randomly in Lukula. They are also reported to have killed an 80-year-old man on his farm.

Their attack came as the police were tracing 50 suspects who attacked and kidnapped a 50-year-old man in the Mempeasem community.

The suspects identified as Razak Sulemana, Musah Shanun and Karim Abdul Rafiuw, exchanged gunshots with the police at the scene and sustained injuries in the process.

“The three suspects, who sustained gunshot wounds during their arrest, are currently receiving treatment at a medical facility,” a statement from the police said.

“A search conducted on them led to the retrieval of one (1) pump action gun, two (2) single barrel guns, one long knife, 80 live cartridges, some talismans and cowries.”

In response to their arrest, the police said, some sympathisers of the suspects attacked the Daboya Police Station and vandalised some properties including accident cars parked at the station and some louvre blades within the barracks.

Communal Clash Renewal 
The renewed clash- with roots of chieftaincy and land disputes between members of the Gonja and Mamprusi tribes in Lukula, North Gonja District, Savannah Region- sparked on May 30 when a gang numbering about fifty (50) invaded the Mempeasem community and kidnapped a 50-year-old man, according to the police.

The police managed to rescue the kidnapped victim and retrieved one (1) AK-47 weapon together with 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 led to a further retrieval of a bag containing 240 AK-47 ammunition,” the police added.

The fifty people are yet to be arrested.