Champagne Popped Over Kombian's Capture

It was an indescribable scene of joy and ecstasy as residents rushed outdoors in obvious delight. It was reminiscent of Ghana’s remarkable victory over the USA at the 2nd Group Stage during this year’s World Cup in South Africa. Audible sighs of relief were heaved by all amidst the popping of champagne when the report was confirmed as true.

No, it wasn’t the outcome of any highly anticipated contact sports match.

It was the capture of 35year old fugitive jailbird, Johnson Kombian Gulkuun, alias Burger, by Togolese security operatives.

Gulkuun, literally means “I have accepted death.”

Kombian, allegedly broke jail on five occasions and is reported to have killed two policemen and wounded another.

The notorious jail breaker, who even had the gall to call a Regional Police Commander on phone and threatened him with death, had finally had his comeuppance.

Nemesis had caught up with him.

Indeed, if terror had a brother, his name would be synonymous to Kombian. No wonder the Assemblyman for Nakpanduri, Alhassan Moferi, described him as “more than a terrorist.”

An obviously elated Moferi, speaking in an interview with Kwami Sefa Kayi, on PeaceFM’s flagship programme, “Kokrokoo”, disclosed that when news of Kombian’s arrest in neighbouring Togo reached the Nakpanduri community, there was spontaneous joy and widespread celebration.

In answer to whether he was also happy by Kombian’s capture, he replied, “more than the word happy. God has poured his showers of blessings on us… who will be happy to live with a monster?” he quizzed.

“Was he that monstrous?” Sefa Kayi tried to find out.

“More than the word monstrous … majority (of the Nakpanduri Community) were living in terrible fear (of him)…My brother, even the day he was arrested, he even went into a house, brought someone out and threatened as to whether he should shoot him or hang him by rope… And it wasn’t once … (it is) by the Grace of God and some kind of courage that I continued to stay in town,” the Assemblyman stated.

Mr. Moferi, who claimed to be more than 15 years older than the convict, opined that his (Kombian’s) family members will most likely be happy at the turn of events.

Asked how he would describe Kombian, the Nakpanduri Assemblyman answered, “more than a terrorist. If there is an adjective, more than a terrorist would qualify him,” he said.

He revealed that in the course of the merriment, some residents including himself, popped champagne to thank God for answered prayers.

“Champagne could travel into the sky more than 3 liters,” he added.

Mr. Alhassan Moferi stated that with the capture of Kombian, residents in Nakpanduri can now “open our doors and sleep ajar.”

In a related development, Kombian is said to have told the Police that a Prisons Warden aided and abetted his escape from prison in January this year.

Principal State Attorney, Anthony Rexford Wiredu, disclosed this at an Accra Circuit Court 1, presided over by Mr. Eric Kyei Baffour, when the fugitive was arraigned before the court on Monday, November 22.

According to him, the convict revealed during interrogations at the CID head quarters in Accra that he received a new knife and a key to a handcuff from the said warden which enabled him escape from prison.

He has been remanded into prison custody to reappear before the court on December 8, 2010.