DISEC TO FLUSH OUT FULANI HERDSMEN (GRAPHIC NSEMPA, PAGE 3, JAN 25, 2010)

By Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah, Atebubu

The Atebubu/Amantin District Security Committee (DISEC) has decided to flush out Fulani herdsmen from the area.
This is in view of the wanton destruction of farmlands by their grazing cattle as well as their alleged involvement in rape and armed robbery cases.
Consequently, the committee has urged all assembly members, chiefs, unit committee members, farmers and other opinion leaders in the various communities to offer their unflinching support to the intended action of the DISEC so that the people could go about their farming activities without fear of attack.
Mr. Sanja Nanja, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Atebubu/Amantin, who is also the chairman of DISEC, disclosed the decision of the committee at a press briefing at Atebubu in the Brong-Ahafo Region.
According to the DCE, the nefarious activities of the herdsmen had persisted for quite sometime now and several attempts to meet them or their so-called  “agents”, had proved futile, hence the decision to drive them away from the district.
“Destroying our farms and being unwilling to meet us have sparked off our action. We need them with their cattle but we cannot entertain their wicked ways of staying with our community members, especially the women,” the DCE said.
According to him, the DISEC would not use the military in their intended action but would rely on the police and the community members to get the Fulani herdsmen out of the area.
Mr Nanja explained that the involvement of the military had not been worthwhile in driving away the Fulanis in the past, since any time they heard of soldiers, they ran away and came back later.
Besides, he said, the involvement of the military would be a drain on the assembly’s funds, which were mainly meant for development.
The District Police Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) John Adusei, noted that whenever the Fulani herdsmen committed an offence,some people who were self-styled agents pleaded on their behalf but failed to pay whatever compensation was agreed upon.
He gave the assurance that the police would henceforth arrest and prosecute any Fulani herdsman who was caught engaging in any criminal activity in the district.
Mr Amadu Kwasi Addo, the chief farmer for the area, also observed that the adult herdsmen usually left their cattle in the care of their children, who tend to lose control of the animals and, therefore, the animals went astray, especially in the nights and destroyed farmlands.
He pointed out that some of the farmers had taken loans from banks, and when their produce was destroyed they found it very difficult to pay back the loans.
He added that the Fulanis were heavily armed and could inflict cutlass or gunshot wounds on whoever dared to approach them as they undertook their activities.