Cattle dispute looms at Yeji

There seems to be a looming war between Konkomba and Fulani cattle owners over grazing grounds at Yeji. Information gathered by DAILY GUIDE through an insider who spoke on grounds of anonymity indicated that both the Konkombas and the Fulanis were arming themselves for a showdown.

The whole trouble allegedly started when a Fulani cattle owner who resides at Techiman, visited Yeji to see how his cattle were faring, only to hear that some Konkomba cattle owners surrounded his cattle when the herdsman took the animals to the bush to feed them, claiming that the grazing land belongs to them (Konkombas).

When the Fulani cattle owner, Alhaji Abdulai Musah, went to where the incident occurred to enquire why his cattle were shot by the Konkomba cattle owners, the Konkombas allegedly turned their guns against him. Alhaji Musah told DAILY GUIDE that he woke up the following morning to find himself on a bed at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi where he was told that after the attack, he became unconscious and was rushed to the hospital in coma.

Alhaji Musah said another reason why he visited Yeji was to meet with the chief of Kamampa, a village in the Pru District, to settle a case brought before the chief by a farmer who complained that his (Alhaji Musah’s) cattle had destroyed his farm. He said after meeting with the chief they agreed that he should compensate the farmer, which he agreed to do.

According to Alhaji Musah, at about 3.00 pm that fateful day, he had a report that about 40 Konkomba cattle owners had surrounded his cattle and shot at them indiscriminately. It was when he visited there to find out the truth or otherwise of the report that the Konkombas attacked him. He said but for the quick intervention of the chief of Kamampa, Nana Kwame Wande II, the Konkombas would have murdered him.

Alhaji Musah appealed to the Minister of Interior and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to wade into the matter in order to bring peace to the area. He said as cattle owners, they also contribute their quota in nation building and as such, they should be treated fairly.

Meanwhile, the Yeji police have arrested some of the attackers and taken them to Sunyani for screening.