MyPagegh.com understands that Tapa Abotoase in the Oti Region is in a state of insecurity!
This follows life-threatening activities of pastoral nomads — popularly known in Ghana as Fulani herdsmen – against farmers in the town.
Information available to this portal indicates that these Fulani herdsmen do not only graze and destroy farmlands with their cattle, but also inflict severe machete wounds on the farmers.
MyPagegh.com gathered that the situation in Tapa Abotoase has become so frightening that both farmers and residents in the town have become paranoid.
The latest of attacks visited upon the farmers by the herdsmen occurred just last two weeks.
Our reporter further learned that satellite towns of Tapa Abotoase also bearing the harsh brunt of the Fulani atrocities included Tapa Akaniemu, Tapa Odei, Tapa Amanya and Tapa Brenease.
According to reports, the incident happened in the morning when a farmer in his mid-30s went to his farmland and found cattle destroying his corn and plantain crops.
Upon seeing this, the farmer decided to drive away the cattle which action infuriated the herdsman.
And displeased with the farmer’s action, the Fulani herdsman whose cattle were wreaking havoc on the crops became inflicted a deep machete wound on the left arm of the farmer.
Some eyewitnesses who narrated this horrifying incident to our reporter said the wound was so deep that the wounded farmer had to be rushed to the hospital for urgent medical attention.
They said sensing danger the herdsmen absconded with his cattle, fearing that the youth of the town may retaliate.
Interacting with some youth of Tapa Abotoase, they blamed the Paramount Chief of the town, Nana Okoforobour Baffour Kwame Asante II, for the lawlessness of the herdsmen.
According to them, because of the inaction of their paramount chief the herdsmen have gained so much notoriety and were causing mayhem in the town.
They buttressed the above point by stressing that the chief has even to the extent of giving the herdsmen and their families a place to live in Tapa Abotoase.
This settlement, MyPagegh.com was informed, has become known as the Fulani Village. The herdsmen have made this new settlement their home they are building a mosque where they will go and worship Allah.
Other projects being carried out by the herdsmen include houses and stores.
In the light of the above, the residents of Tapa Abotoase, especially the youth called on the Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, the Oti Regional Security Council to act with a sense of urgency to avoid any bloodbath incident in the town.
They went on to caution that failure on the part of the IGP and the security agencies to address their security concerns will compel them to resort to whatever means to defend themselves against the aggression of the Fulanis.
Source: Ato Keelson
