Police arrest 7 for assassination attempt on chief

Seven armed men have been arrested by police in Asamankese in the Eastern region for attempting to assassinate the chief of Asikasu, Barimah Adjei Konadu Yiadom II, on Tuesday dawn.

The suspects, according to correspondent, McAnthony Dagyenga, stormed the chief’s palace while he was there with some other people.

Narrating the story, Anim Augustina, wife of the chief said at about 5:30am, she heard some people banging at the main gate of the palace while she was sweeping. The assailants, numbering about 20, she said, forced their way into the palace with guns. According to her, they were led by Kyidomhene Kwadwo Darko, who demanded to know the whereabouts of her husband.

She said the Kyidomhene then ordered everybody in the palace to leave so they could perform their rituals ahead of the celebration of the Ohum festival on Wednesday.

Anim Augustina said she then rushed to the Asikasu police station to lodge a complaint.

According to the chief, the Tuesday dawn assassination attempt was the fourth time the Kyidomhene had tried to kill him, so he could ascend the Asikasu throne.

He said the Kyidomhene was arrested last year and arraigned before the Koforidua circuit court for prosecution, but was granted bail and asked to sign a bond to be of good behaviour.

Asamankese police commander, S.P. Sampson Anane Appiah confirmed the incident to McAnthony Dagyenga. He said he deployed officers to the palace to arrest the assailants Kyidomhene and six others after having received distress calls about the assassination attempt. He said the suspects are being held in police custody and will be arraigned before court.