Two Fulani herdsmen jailed 24 months

Mpraeso, July 13, GNA - A circuit court at Mpraeso on Wednesday sentenced two Fulani herdsmen to a total of 24 months imprisonment in hard labour.

Mohamed Yakubu, 25, and Omaru Chiwalo, 22, were found guilty of unlawful entry and destruction of vegetation at the Digia National Park in the Afram Plains in the Eastern Region. They pleaded guilty to the charge.

Detective Inspector Christian Apronti told the court presided over by Mr Kwaku Osei that on March 8 this year, guards of the Game and Wildlife went on their usual rounds in the park. The prosecution said the guards arrested the two herdsmen, who had travelled from Manechera and Anyaso in the Afram Plains with large herds of cattle to graze inside the park, destroying the vegetation, and handed them over to the Police at Donkorkrom. Passing sentence, the Presiding Judge said the court could have imposed a fine on the Fulani herdsmen but they were sentenced. He explained that it was to serve as a deterrent to other herdsmen, who allow their animals to graze in forest reserves and destroy crops and foodstuffs of farmers.