The police have deployed 110 men from the National Formed Police Unit (FPU), Ashanti, Bono East and Ahafo regions to restore calm at Sampah in the Bono Region, following a chieftaincy dispute that led to the killing of a 65-year-old woman, Rahael Abena Anima, in the area last Wednesday.
The dispute resulted in rioting that led to the firing of gunshots and the burning of a market and a nearby house.
Three members of a police patrol team were also injured in the process.
Information
A police report said on September 10, 2024, at about 11:00 a.m., personnel at Sampa received information that supporters of Nana Sammor Duah II, a faction in the Sampa chieftaincy dispute, had launched an armed attack on family members of Nana Samgba Gyafla II.
The attackers, it said, armed with shot guns, allegedly opened fire indiscriminately after learning that the National House of Chiefs was gazetting Nana Samgba Gyafla II as the legitimate Paramount Chief of the Sampa Traditional Area, a decision they strongly opposed.
“In the course of the disturbances, the mob set fire to parts of the market and attacked the residence of Nana Samgba Gyafla II. Gunshots fired into the house killed Rahael Abena Anima, 65, instantly.
“The mob also torched the house of Abu Mahama, head of the Samgba Gyafla II family,” the statement indicated
Quell
Consequently, a police patrol team was dispatched to the area to quell the violence and restore order.
“A police patrol team, led by ASP/Stanley Baku, District Commander, and ASP/Mr. Solomon Okyere, FPU Commander, swiftly moved to quell the violence,” it said.
However, the report said the team came under heavy fire, resulting in minor gunshot wounds to Constable Theophilus Boakye (Banda Ahenkro FPU), Constable Danso Asare (Banda Ahenkro FPU) and Constable Osei Emmanuel (Sunyani OPS).
The injured officers received treatment at the Sampa Hospital and were later discharged.
The body of the deceased was deposited at the Sampa Hospital morgue.
“Calm has since been restored with intensified patrols and continuous monitoring in the township,” the police statement further said
