Man shot dead in chief's palace

Agyemangkrom (B/A), April 23, GNA - Residents of Agyemangkrom, a farming community in Dormaa municipality, last Monday had the shock of their lives when a man alleged to be a human vampire was shot dead at the chief's palace.

Kwasi Kyeremeh alias 'DJ Pussycat', alleged to be preying on farmers and draining their blood for ritual purposes, was shot dead by an unknown assailant whilst being interrogated by a mob after he and three others were escorted to the chief's palace.

The Chief of Agyemangkrom, Nana Kwabena Donkor, is helping the Dormaa police in their investigations.

The Assembly Member for Antwirifu-Agyemangkrom, Paa George, told the Ghana News Agency that rumours about ritual murder and blood draining was rife in the area.

He said the deceased was never linked to the rumours but was rather known to be an illegal nocturnal lumberman whose operations had attracted the attention of forestry officials.

Paa George said when he arrived at the chief's house at Agyemangkrom at about 2200 hours the mob had dispersed, leaving the corpse in a pool of blood with the aged chief guarding the body. The driver of one of three Tico taxi cabs involved in the operation, Yaw Ansah who was subjected to severe beatings at the chief's palace, said they were hired by Kyeremeh to inspect his teak tree concession near Agyemangkrom but ran short of fuel somewhere near Antwirifu, a neighbourhood community.

While refuelling, a mob led by one Kwabena Ntow, an official of the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service at Antwirifu barrier, emerged from the bush with a gun and ordered them not to move. Ansa said the mob accused them of being responsible for murders and blood draining in the area and escorted them to the chief's palace. He said he was clubbed down, dragged on the ground and was abandoned by the assailants upon hearing the arrival of a military-cum-police team.

The driver said his taxi cab with registration number BA 2112Y was also burnt.