N/R: 18 arrested for butchering a 'witch'

Police at Buipe in the Northern region have rounded up three persons and 15 others for butchering an elderly woman at Sanpkala in the Central Gonja district.

The woman, 60, was accused of being a sorcerer, casting an evil spell over the village and causing the death of promising and industrious young men in the area.

Deputy Police Commander of the area, ASP Kwame Boadi told Starr News the Police upon the invitation of the Kusawguwura, the traditional head, arrested three suspects believed to have committed the heinous crime.

ASP Boadi said 15 others were also forcibly arrested for trying to aid the suspects to resist Police arrest.

It is not yet clear what triggered this recent action by the youth, but Starr News sources indicate that the youth had attributed recent mysterious deaths in the area to the woman and issued threats to kill her.

An eyewitness close to the traditional head told Starr News' Northern regional correspondent Eliasu Tanko that the three men attacked the aged woman on Saturday dawn at her residence, butchered her and left her helplessly writhing on the ground.

The matter was later reported to the Kasuwguwuru who also called in the Police.

ASP Kwame said the woman whose identity is still not known was receiving treatment at the Buipe Hospital.

The suspects would be prosecuted according to the Police.