The
Bolgatanga Police Command in the Upper East Region of Ghana, have arrested 63
suspects in connection with the lynching of a 67-year old woman at Penlugu
market who was accused of being a witch.
The 63
suspects were picked up in a raid on Saturday at Pelungu and
Tindongo, and are currently in custody, where they would be screened for
identification.
The victim,
Yenboka Kenna, age 67, was accused of witchcraft by some residents of the area
and was sent to the Chief of Pelungu Naab Sobil Sore (IV) who later discharged
her of not being guilty.
She was
subsequently lynched by a mob on the night of Sunday, 28th May 2017, at the
Pelungu market, a day before Major Maxwell Adam Mahama was lynched at
Denkyira-Obuasi, the Central Region of Ghana
Speaking to
Citi News, Bolgatanga Municipal Police Commander, Superintendent Samuel
Punobyin, confirmed the arrest and said 63 male suspects including a lady are
being held for investigation.
”We conducted a swoop in Pelungu market where the
deceased was lynched and the surrounding houses and have arrested 63 male
suspects including a lady and they are being held for investigations.
'We conducted this swoop based on intelligence because
we were told the lynching of the deceased was done by people living in the
area.'
'So the suspects will be screened today and so we are
hoping that the witnesses who were also at the chief’s palace before the
killing of the deceased will identify those who brought the deceased to the
palace, those who demanded she should be released to them; and those who
lynched the deceased for prosecution.
But for
suspects who will not be fingered by the witnesses will be released on bail,'
he said.
Mr. Punobyin
reiterated the commitment of the police to get all perpetrators involved in the
lynching to face the law. He also denied allegations that a postmortem was
never conducted on the deceased before her burial.
“When police went to the scene at Pelungu market to
pick the body of the deceased, she was sent to the Bolga regional hospital
mortuary for postmortem before the body was handed over to the deceased family
for burial,” Mr. Punobyin stated.
The Chief of
Pelungu, Naab Sierig Sore Sobil (IV), who is currently in Geneva
attending the International Labour Organization (ILO) conference is expected to
report himself to the police upon his arrival for questioning.
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