Fulanis steal 42 cows and bribe witnesses not to report them

Koforidua, June 7, GNA - Three Fulani herdsmen have been remanded for conspiracy to steal and stealing 42 cattle worth GH¢ 50,000.00 by a Koforidua circuit court. Amadu Amarga, 29, Amadu Umaro also known as Sru, 32, and Umaro Kwaku Fulani, 24, pleaded not guilty and would re-appear on June 21. Amadu Amarga was also charged with a third count of abetment of crime and pleaded not guilty. Prosecuting, Police Inspector Patrick Adzadza told the court presided over by Mrs Barbara Tetteh Charway that, Alhaji Gabashi Issaka, the complainant, is a farmer who resides at Batorkope, a village near Donkorkrom.

He said in April 2011, the accused persons went into his cattle ranch at Batorkope and drove away the caretaker, one Sumaila, and stole 42 cattle= .. The prosecutor said the accused persons took the cattle to Amarga's kraal which they used as their transit point before transporting the animal= s to an unknown destination.

Inspector Adzadza said another witness in the case, Alhaji Osumanu Yaro, the Public Relations Officer for the Fulanis, had information about where the cattle were first sent to.

He said Alhaji Yaro confronted Amarga in the presence of other witnesses, all Fulanis, and he admitted the offence and pleaded with the witnesses not to relay the information to the complainant about his involvement.

The prosecutor said the next day, Amarga went to Alhaji Yaro's house and gave him GH¢ 200.00 as bribe in the presence of other witnesses= .. He said the witnesses on receiving the money called the complainant and informed him.

Inspector Adzadza said Alhaji Yaro accompanied the complainant to the police station with the GH¢ 200.00 as an exhibit and lodged a complainant. He said accused persons upon hearing that the complainant had been informed about their nefarious act went into hiding. He said they were later arrested at their hide out at Donkorkrom.