Police chiefs in Kumasi rushed to Asante Akyem Agogo in the Ashanti Region Thursday morning to hold separate emergency meetings with angry natives of the town and Fulani herdsmen.
Tension was said to be at boiling point between the Agogo natives, on one side, and the Fulani herdsmen on the other, following reports that cattle of the Fulani herdsmen were destroying farms of the town folks.
The Fulani herdsmen were also accused of violently attacking the Agogo people with deadly weapons, including guns and machete at their farms, creating fear and panic in the area.
These alleged atrocities were said to have angered the Agogo natives, especially the energetic youth, who were said to be preparing to clash with the Fulanis.
The timely arrival of the police chiefs led by DCOP Kofi Boakye, the Ashanti Regional Police Commander, was therefore crucial to avert a possible mayhem.
Accompanying the police commander were ACP Ampofo Duku, Deputy Police Commander; DSP James Osei Acheampong; Chief Supt Peter Gyimah, MTTD Commander, among a host of other top officers in the region.
Addressing the people of Agogo, DCOP Kofi Boakye admonished them to calm down and respect the law even in the face of provocation, assuring them of the readiness of the police to maintain law and order in the area.
According to him, information reaching him in his office at Kumasi was not pleasant, with regard to the escalating tension between the Agogo natives and the Fulani herdsmen, hence his rush visit to the area.
DCOP Kofi Boakye explained that his visit was a fact-finding one, adding that he was there to personally ascertain what was going on so that he and his officers could map up effective strategy to douse the tension.
The police chief, after listening to the concerns of the people who claimed that the Fulanis were attacking them with weapons at will, said he would intensify the security of the area to ensure law and order.
He also said that he would personally brief REGSEC about the looming danger at Agogo so that together, REGSEC could formulate adequate strategy to ensure lasting peace in the area.
Queen mother of Agogo, Nana Afrakoma Serwah Kusi Obuodum, urged her subjects to abide by the police commander’s admonition so that the police could bring lasting peace to the town.
Nana Kwame Nti, Kontihene of Agogo, expressed worry about the increasing number of cattle in the area which he claimed destroy farm produce on a daily basis.
Virtually all the indigenes that spoke at the forum said the Fulani herdsmen had breached a court order that they should vacate the town; and so they would soon file a motion for contempt against the Fulanis in court.
Meanwhile, DCOP Kofi Boakye, in a meeting with the leadership of the Fulani herdsmen, sternly cautioned them to desist from attacking the people and make sure that their cattle did not destroy the people’s farm produce.
