Ashanti Region: Police intensify campaign against herdsmen after attack

Police in the Ashanti Region say they will intensify the campaign to flush out nomadic herdsmen in the region despite Monday’s attack on a joint police-military team at Serebuoso near Agogo.

Three military officers and a policeman are receiving treatment at the Agogo Presbyterian Hospital after nomadic herdsmen ambushed and opened fire on them.

The victims, who are members of the Operation Cowleg, are said to have been shot from behind after the security operatives responded to a distress call from a woman that her farm was being destroyed by herd of cattle.

The armed herdsmen, believed to have taken siege in the herd of cattle, then opened fire on the security operatives who had started driving the animals away.

The incident happened at about 12:30 p.m Monday.

Nhyira FM’s Ohemeng Tawiah says the security forces do not plan to launch a special investigation to find the attackers.

Violent Shepherds

The operations of the police-military team were strengthened after a Joy News Hotline Documentary titled, “Violent Shepherds”, threw light on fatalities involving herdsmen-farmer clashes in Agogo, Kwahu, Kintampo and Berekum, respectively in the Ashanti, Eastern and Bono Ahafo regions.

The attack on Monday comes less than a week after traditional authorities in Agogo issued the herdsmen with a one-week ultimatum to evacuate their cattle from the area.

The herdsmen until now, had accused the police-military team of killing about 200 cattle, an allegation police dismissed, saying few of them were killed in self-defence.

Watch more in video below: