Residents manhandle 2 nomadic herdsmen; bath Police with ‘apia’

Two nomadic herdsmen were on Tuesday manhandled by residents of two communities in the Kwahu East District of the Eastern after some farmers were allegedly prevented by some nomadic herdsmen from accessing their farms.

But for the timely intervention of the Police, the two herdsmen who were riddling on a bicycle from Oboyan to Nkawkaw, would have been lynched. The Police and the District Chief Executive had a tough time saving the two herdsmen.

In the process, the residents smeared an itchy plant, locally named as ‘apia’ on the police to vent their anger. Eastern Regional Police PRO, Ebenezer Tetteh confirmed the incident to 3News.

Residents of Oboyan and Hweehwee claimed some of their farmers were Tuesday morning prevented from going to their farms by some nomadic herdsmen, something that got the youth incensed.

Later in the day, the irate youth impounded a truck which they claimed was transporting food items to the herdsmen in the bush. The items have since been handed over to the Police in the area.

The residents mounted a road barrier on the Sempoa-Nkawkaw road following rumours that some people were transporting food and ammunition to the herdsmen in the bush and at about 5:30pm the two nomadic herdsmen showed up at the barrier.

They were accosted by the about 300 youth who attempted to lynch them. The Police Operation Save Life team was informed and quickly rushed to the spot to save the two but after they had been mishandled.

The youth who were not happy with the Police’s action, smeared the ‘apia’ on the officers but they still managed to get the two herdsmen released. They were taken to the Holy Family Hospital at Nkawkaw to seek medical treatment.