A family at Domeabra village near Juaso in Fanteakwa South Municipality in the Eastern region has accused the Okyeman Environmental Protection Taskforce of the disappearance of their 17-year-old son, Kwaku Abugri.
According to the Abugri family, the task force invaded their cottage where they have dwelled for 20 years farming to accuse them of engaging in illegal mining.
Asomba Abugri, father of six children alleged that the leader of the task force they identified as Atta ordered his men to beat them up.
“I am a cocoa farmer. I left my children and went to the north to visit my family. I was there when my children called me and informed me that the Kyebi taskforce has come to my house and sprayed chemicals on the faces of my kids and when they complained about it they were insulted. So about two weeks when I returned from the north, they came again that time I was weeding on the mountain and I heard the noise so I decided to get closer to them. So when I got there one man called Atta who was their leader fetched water and was calling on the gods to kill my children because they insulted him”.
Abugri narrated further that “I told him that what he is doing is an abomination, and our lands prohibit such things so if even my children indeed insulted him we can sit down and settle the matter.
But he didn’t like what I said so he fetched a sample of soil in my house and told me he is going to use the soil to cast spell on us at Kyibi, he said he will kill my wife, children, and me. So I decided to report the case to the police at Osino police station”.
Embittered Asomba Abugri said “So afterward, about two weeks, it was Tuesday and Atta and his people came to the village again, and he told me that he will still not spare me. So I asked him what exactly he wants from my family and I told him that he is wanted by the police because I have reported the case to the Osino police. I then called the Osino police inspector and he instructed me to give the phone to Atta and whilst they were talking the call went off and he told the people he came there with that they should beat me up, tie me and send me away”.
According to Abugri, he was handcuffed and beaten mercilessly by the task force.
“Immediately they began to beat me and pushed me to the ground so he holds pressed on my neck, and handcuffed me So my wife shouted and said please free him I beg you, but they didn’t listen and went to beat my wife Grace Abugri too.”
He said his son was chased into the bush by the task force and has since disappeared.
“So I was taken away and they took my eldest child to the bush and I heard a gunshot and one of them said we have killed your child.
So the next morning when I returned my wife told me they took my child away to the bush and shot him since then he has not the child about two weeks now I have also been looking for my child but still not found. So I want you people to help me. That is all that I want.
For emphasis, Asomba Abugri stressed that he and the family have never engaged in illegal mining.
“They don’t mine in my village; I am a farmer for my entire life. They came around 2:00pm. They said they saw them digging the pits, so I told them to arrest anyone who comes to dig and mine here; I am not here because of mining. I have my cocoa farms, and about 20years now that has been my source of livelihood, and I rely on the cocoa to cater for my four children. The government pays me through cocoa harvesting. I even came here doing my cocoa farms long ago before people started mining in this community”. He concluded.
The incident has been reported to the Anyinam District Police command for investigation. The task force and the family have been summoned by the Anyinam District Police Commander for investigation.
However, the Chief of Kyebi Apapam, Osabarima Okogyeaman Apagya Ofori IV who doubles as head of Okyeman Environmental Protection Taskforce said even though he was not part of the operation, debriefing by the task force is contrary to the claims of the family.
According to him, the task force did not conduct the exercise with any firearm therefore untrue that they shot anyone.
He said the operations of the task force have helped rid of the foreigners operating in the Atewa forest.
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
