About ten people believed to be land guards are in the grips of the Okyeman Land Protection Force at Yaw Kokor, a suburb of Nsawam in the Eastern Region.
The ten suspects were handed over to the Kyebi Divisional Police command for investigation and possible prosecution.
This follows the recent increase in the illegal activities by land guards reported to be terrorising residents of Yaw Kokor, Nsawam and Amasaman for some time now.
The team retrieved some offensive weapons, including guns, from the land guards who had pitched camp in a house at Yaw Kokor for their operations.
According to the Okyeman Akwansrahene, who doubles as the leader of the Okyeman Land Protection Force, Baffour Asiedu Bekoe, the land guards in recently threatened to deal with the chief of Yaw Kokor and his subjects.
The Okyeman Akwansrahene, in handing alleged culprits to the police, said the security agencies need to be swift in preventing individuals and groups from encroaching on public, private or Stool lands to forestall clashes.
Previous arrest
Four land guards, including a machine operator, were recently arrested by the Okyeman Land Protection Force at Okanta along the Suhum-Nsawam highway.
The taskforce was supported by the Ghana Police Service and some residents of the community.
The four suspects, alleged to be working for KOANS Building Solution, and in the company of some others, were also said to be carrying offensive weapons.
The four were Samuel Desese, 38 years, Oboobi Godwin, 45 years, Kwaku Eric, 32 years, and Nifa Cann, 25 years.
Reports say the land guards, who were seen clearing a parcel of land at Okanta, later became agitated and confrontational when community members engaged them.
Okyeman Akwansrahene and leader of the protection force, Baffour Asiedu Bekoe, who led the arrest, disclosed to journalists that some community members of Okanta called him in to complain about the invasion of the town by people suspected to be land guards.
They were said to be working on a parcel of land belonging to Okyeman. The Vigilante and Related Offence Act 2019, Act 999 empowers persons to prevent the committing of an offence within their neighborhood.
Section 3 of Act 999 also prohibits the formation, organisation and operations of vigilante groups and activities; and the law states in sub-section 2 that whoever indulges in vigilante activities commits an offence and is liable to a term of imprisonment not less than 10 years.
The Section 4 and 5 of Act 999 also spells out punishment for people who aid and abet in vigilante activities through funding and facilitation, contrary to Act 999.
About The Author
