20 Nabbed over Yeji shooting

A total of 20 suspects have so far been arrested at Yeji in the Pru District of the Brong Ahafo Region in connection with the shooting incident at Kojo-Bofour that claimed two lives and injured 29 people.

Two persons, Kofi Fofie, 34, and Kojo Jikibu, 40, who were shot dead on October 26, 2013, were buried after autopsy.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Vincent Adotey, Wenchi Divisional Crime Officer, who confirmed the story to DAILY GUIDE yesterday, said the suspects, including the national executives of the Nchumburu Youth Association, would be put before court today.

DSP Adotey said 11 suspects, who are currently in police custody, had been charged with conspiracy to commit crime, causing harm and stealing while the organisers of the said event, where the incident took place, had been charged with failure to notify police about special event contrary to the Public Order Act, Act 491 Section 9.

The organizers were earlier granted a self-recognizance bail.

The 11 suspects, who allegedly took part in the shooting, are Akwasi Manu alias Akwasi Ntrinu, 45, Atta Yaw, 35, Kojo Osei Gosuru alias Kojo Konto, 24, Kwaku Owusu, 48, and Kwaku Tawiah alias Inusah, 34.

The rest are Kofi Amoako, 37, Akwasi Danso, 42, Yaw Bruce, 43, Kwaku Amoako, 23, Gyapah Prince, 43 and Kwaku Aduana, 40.

DSP Adotey indicated that the National Executives of the Nchumburu Youth Association were arrested alongside the 11 suspects because they failed to notify the police about the event.

He said the police intend to arrest more suspects in the ensuing days.

It would be recalled that Nana Dr Agyare Bofour IV, the Chief of Kojo-Bofour and his followers were attacked while on their way to the Nchumburu National Youth Congress, which was held at Yeji.

They were believed to have been attacked by the followers of a rival chief who had already taken his seat at the function.

Nana Dr Agyare Bofour told DAILY GUIDE that he and his entourage were ambushed about 10 meters to the venue by the assailants who shot indiscriminately.

According to him, he attended the congress because he had been a long-standing member of the association and that the police could not prevent him from attending.

Following the incident, the District Security Council (DISEC) temporarily imposed a dust-to-dawn curfew on the township to contain the volatile situation.

Kojo-Bofour community has been embroiled in a chieftaincy dispute since 2010 after the kingmakers nominated and enstooled Nana Dr Agyare Bofour as the substantive chief of the area.

His installation was however opposed by the Paramount Chief of Yeji Traditional Area, Pemampem Yaw Kagbrese V, the President of the Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs, who installed a rival chief.

The matter is pending before the Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs for determination.