Weija under-attack

Weija (Greater Accra) – Weija a community near the Water Works, is now a land of terrified people. The community has for some weeks now, been under attack by a group of thugs that have been on the rampage, shooting people and destroying property.

Eleven of the residents have fled the town, while those left behind live in constant fear. The attackers, mostly young men are believed to be from Oblogo, near Accra. Their objective is to get the residents and developers out of the town. Their reason no one seems to know.

Investigations by the “Times” indicated that the rampaging youth wielded riffles, pistols, cutlasses, knives and clubs. They undertook the attacks early in the mornings and evenings. Some self-styled chiefs of Oblogo who want to take over the sale of land of Weija, are said to be behind the attacks.

The worst of the attacks occurred on Saturday 15 March when about eight of the resident including women and children were injured. Giving an account of that day’s attack, an eyewitness told the “Times” that in the evening, the thugs blocked the road leading to the Weija main road.

The 15-member gang, wielding three assault riffles and cutlasses, ordered passengers of commercial vehicles, especial “trotro”, that plied the road, to alight. “They ordered the passengers to surrender everything in their possession or they would be shot”.

A victim, Ayaa Ayi, tried to resist, and his left hand was chopped off and his ?2.5m taken away. A lady, Awura Adwoa was shot in the eye, while other passengers were beaten with sticks.

The eyewitness said the gang also destroyed some vehicle and forced the residents of the town to seek refuge in the nearby bushes. A source at the Dansoman Police Station confirmed the incident when contacted on Friday.

He said the police got to the scene after the gang had fled, but managed to arrest four people suspected to be involved. The police source declined to give their names, because investigations were on-going. They have, however been released on bail.

Another source at the Odorkor Police Station where the incident was first reported, also confirmed the incident. According to the source, the Divisional Command was instituting measures to enhance security in the area considering the rampant reports of attacks and clashes.

Some of the victims the “Times” spoke with blamed some the chiefs in the area for the situation. “The way things are tempted to believe they have a hand in the attacks”, Ayaa Ayi alleged. Efforts to get the chiefs for their comment were not possible as they were not available.

Ayi also complained that after two days on admission at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, he reported the incident to the Odorkor Police Station who promised to invite the chiefs and elders of Weija for and amicable settlement of the matter.

But the chiefs, he said, refused to attend a meeting by the Divisional Commander. The victims have called on the government to intervene since the situation in the town was not the best.