Timber merchant exposed for allegedly murdering a teenager in a cold blood

A middle aged timber merchant in Techiman municipality, Alhaji Issifu , affectionately called Obolo has allegedly murdered a 16 year old boy, Yahaya after using “chemical interrogation” based on suspicion that the decease and his pal, Baba have conspired to steal his three million cedis and a cell phone. The timber merchant was believed to have carried out the heinous crime with support from his spouse.

According to a close friend of the diseased who spoke on the basis of anonymity, Alhaji who resides at Gyarko a suburb in the commercial capital on Tuesday 28th June, 2007 complaint of his missing ¢GH300 and cell phone and upon a tip off it was alleged that the two suspected characters (the decease and his friend Baba) on 27th June, 2007 were seen surveying the neighbourhood, specifically Obolo’s vineyard.

The close ally reiterated that filled with anger the timber merchant solicited the help of four other persons in the area and started searching for the two suspects.

After several hours of search the Alhaji managed to get the teenagers and with support from some friends, send them to a near by bush on Techiman- Tuobodom road where the boys were made to confess under duress. Considering the threatening words, they all confessed stealing the money and the mobile phone.

The boys were therefore sent to Alhaji Obolo’s house where they were maltreated and subjected to beating. The Alhaji poured ashes and fire on them after they had been kept in a barrel filled with hot water mixed with pepper. Additionally, the teenagers were further tortured with a heater leaving all forms of bruises on their bodies. The source said Yahaya became weak and in the process passed away at the house of the Alhaji.

Sensing danger, the Alhaji quickly conspired with three young men, Baba, Ayew and Oyibo and sent the corpse to Bredi no 1in the Nloranza South constituency where they buried it in a thick forest forests.

On Saturday 30th June, 2007 Ahaji who is a key member of the biggest opposition party in the country the National Democratic Congress (NDC) took Baba one of the suspected thieves to the police station and lodged a complaint that he has stolen his money and a mobile phone. However before he could complete his statement, Baba told the police that they were two but could not trace the where about of his friend and narrated the agony they had been through in the house of Alhaji and his wife and friends.

Upon intensive interrogation carried out by the police, Alhaji Obolo on Sunday 1st, July, 2007 confessed killing the boy. He later confessed that with the help of his three friends, Baba, Ayew, and Oyibo they buried the body at Bredi in the Nkoranza district.

On Monday 2nd July, 2007 at about 3. 00 am a police team led by Chief Superintendent Addae Peprah went to Bredi no 1for the dead body after some rituals had been performed by traditional leaders in the area. At Bredi, Alhaji was nearly lynched by the angry youth in the town for defiling their land. The few policemen who went to exhume the body had a very hectic time in their attempt to safe the Alhaji from the hands of the irate youth of Bredi

Meanwhile, the other three suspects are on the run. The Techiman municipal police command has since called on the residents to help trace their where about.

Alhaji is expected to be arraigned before court soon.