A 22-year-old Fulani herdsman Ali Osumanu has escaped death but has sustained several gunshot injuries, and is now receiving treatment at the hospital while over 600 cattle are reported shot dead at Tease in the Kwahu Afram Plains south district in the Eastern Region.
Speaking to Mybrytfmonline.com, the district chief executive Hon. George Ofori admitted to the fact that is he with the approval of the eastern regional security council headed by the eastern regional minister who doubles as the MP for Nkawkaw constituency Hon. Eric Kwakye Darfuor to employ the service of the military (operation Cowley) to flush out all cattle who are not confined in a ranch to allow peace to prevail between the cattle owners and farmers in the area.
In addition, he said, “this action was based on several complaints they as assembly received from farmers about the conduct of some Fulani’s who are not known in the area against them”.
Alhaji Sandari Adamu who is the leader of Fulani’s residing in Afram Plains in an interview with the media accused the district chief executive, Hon. George Ofori of all the misunderstandings which seasonally erupts between farmers and Fulani’s in the area therefore the farmers are not to be blamed.
In addition, he said that “Fulani’s in the Afram Plains has being registered and issued a card with an identification number on it; they are being tasked for development in the district by the assembly which demands annual renewal”. Alhaji Sandari finally said, “the assembly should have notified or caution them of breaking the laid down rules before embarking on this operation which has now resulted in them jobless”.
Finally, Idrisa Sambo who is a chief of Fulani’s at Donkorkrom in the Kwahu Afram Plains North also added that his 40 cows confined in a ranch was shot dead by the military in the ranch and added that he is now living in fear because of the way and manner the military is carrying out the operation whereby all Fulani was being described as criminal and the police are not ready to protect them.
Source: Mybrytfmonline/Evans Boateng
