Kwahu chiefs threaten ‘war’ against Fulani herdsmen

Nana Simpe Wiredu II, Krontihene of Abene, has appealed to the government to show readiness to correct the dangerous activities of the Fulani herdsmen in the Kwahu area otherwise they would take it upon themselves by any means to eject them from the Kwahuland.

“Even if it will cost us our blood to get these Fulanis ejected from this area, we will do so. After all, our forefathers shed their blood to acquire this land for us,” he said.

Nana Simpe Wiredu said they as indigenes of Kwahu would not sit idle on their own land for aliens to kill them, rape their women, prevent their children from attending school and destroy their farms and source of drinking water while the government did nothing about it.

The Krontihene said this when the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) led by Mr Antwi-Boasiako Sekyere, the Eastern Regional Minister, and all Municipal and District Chief Executives (MDCEs) in the region met with the chiefs and people of Kwahu and Fulani leaders on Tuesday.

Reports show that some communities in the Kwahu area are allegedly living under self-imposed curfew for weeks now, due to indiscriminate shooting, assault and harassment by the Fulani herdsmen in the area.

The indigenes mostly farmers cannot visit their farms and undertake other activities for fear of being killed by the Fulani herdsmen.

According to reports, about two weeks ago two indigenes were killed and one on admission at Saint Joseph Hospital in Koforidua. Two Fulani herdsmen were also killed.

Nana Simpe Wiredu expressed disappointment that the government, through MDCEs and the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC), only held resolution meetings with them “but they lead nowhere; the Fulani herdsmen continue to make life unbearable for us.”

He wondered how the Fulani herdsmen acquired and wielded sophisticated guns in shepherding their flock when they were supposed to use rods.

“If after this meeting the government does nothing about this crisis, we will take our own course to eject them immediately,” he said.

Mr Antwi-Boasiako Sekyere said the government had not relented in its efforts to ensure calm and to tighten security in Kwahu.

He said the REGSEC had made urgent arrangement to boost security in the area and that an army taskforce would soon be deployed to check the activities of the Fulani herdsmen and bring calm in Kwahu.

The Regional Minister appealed to the chiefs and people of Kwahu not to be afraid since the security forces were up to the task, and advised that they should put the past happenings behind and forge ahead in unity and love.

“End the threats against one another, you should work in accordance with the law and let there be peace in Kwahu,” he said.

Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, the Chief of Kwahu Zongo, appealed to the chiefs and people of Kwahu to let bygones be bygones, since his outfit was going to ensure that the Fulani herdsmen respected the indigenes.

He said his outfit had instructed the Fulani cattle owners and herdsmen to construct wells to provide water for their cattle and to as well build pens to house their animals to prevent them from destroying the farmers’ crops.

Alhaji Abubakar assured that the Fulani community in the area would liaise with the chiefs, the Municipal and District Assemblies (MDAs) and the police to resolve all misunderstandings to ensure a peaceful co-existence in Kwahu.