Eleven family members arrested for arson

Binduri (U/E), Dec. 13, GNA -Eleven persons, including two junior secondary school (JSS) students have been arrested by the Bawku Police for setting ablaze a family's house at Teitac, near Binduri in the Bawku municipality.

The arsonists alleged that Atuase Dashmani, a member of the arson victims' family and one Ayabilla had stolen five bullocks and 15 goats and sheep belonging to their family.

The animals had been provided by Oxfam-GB a British NGO under its rural livelihood support systems for food security and poverty alleviation.

Briefing the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on the issue, Police Inspector Andrews Yirenkyi said the police had a call that a family house had been set on fire at Teitac, near Binduri on Tuesday morning. According to Inspector Yirenkyi, the Abanga-Abugri family, who had been loosing their livestock frequently, detected at dawn that two more bullocks had been stolen.

He said the family traced the footsteps of the bullocks to Ayabilla's house and found them tied under a tree. Akaama Abanga-Abugri, who led the search team, inquired from Ayabilla how he came by with the bullocks to which Ayabilla replied that it was Atuase Dashmani who had brought the animals for safe keeping. Inspector Yirenkyi said Ayabilla, thereafter took to his heels and as the family tried to take away the animals Dashmani appeared and prevented them from droving the animals away.

He said this resulted in a scuffle and Akaama returned home to inform the family about the incident. The Akaama family he said then attacked the Dashmani household and set it on fire.

He listed the items destroyed including 3 sewing machines, 8 bicycles, a motorcycle and clothes of the family, adding that no one was hurt.

Meanwhile, Dashmani and Ayabilla are reported to have fled the village, while a search in Ayabilla's room revealed various stolen items. Inspector Yirenkyi said although the Akaama family had a good case, they should not have taken the laws into their own hands and condemned their action.