WA POLICE ARREST 28 SUSPECTS (PAGE 22, JULY 24, 2010)

THE Wa police have arrested 28 suspects believed to be farmers from Domangile, near Nyoli in the Upper West Region in connection with the murder of one Munya Seidu, a 27-year-old Fulani herdsman.
Seidu was said to have visited his brother, Mr Dong Nayayiri, the complainant on April 13, this year at Nyoli and volunteered to send his brothers cattle into the bush to graze when he was allegedly murdered.
The Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Roy Amuni, who briefed the media in Wa, said on April 13, this year, Seidu visited his brother, Mr Nayayiri at Nyoli and volunteered to guide the brothers cattle into the bush to graze.
He said after staying in the bush with the cattle for sometime, Seidu did not return home with the cattle but the animals found their way back home.
DCOP Amuni said Mr Nayayiri became worried and, therefore, organised a search party to trace Seidu in the bush.
He said after a fruitless search, Mr Nayayiri reported the matter to the Wa police the next day.
DCOP Amuni stated that the police immediately mobilised and accompanied Mr Nayayiri to the bush where they found the body of Seidu lying in a supine position with lacerations on his body, a swollen eye and a deep cut on the neck.
He said after preliminary investigations, the police suspected foul play and, therefore, requested for a post-mortem examination at the Wa Regional Hospital.
Mr Amuni said the post-mortem examination results revealed that the deceased died as a result of acute loss of blood (traumatic homicide).
He said the police intensified their investigations into the matter until the first week of this month when they had information that about 13 people from Domangile had a hand in the murder of Seidu.
He said the houses of those suspects were kept under surveillance until at about 1:30 am on July 14, 2010, when the police raided the houses of the suspects and arrested 28 men, all believed to be farmers and whose ages range between 20 and 55 years.
DCOP Amuni said a search conducted in the rooms of the suspects led to the discovery of a shot gun and a cartridge as well as a number of bows and arrows.
He gave the assurance that the suspects would be screened and those found to be connected with the crime would be charged with the offence and arraigned.
The Regional Crime Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Wisdom Lavoe, advised residents to regularly volunteer information to the police.
He said that would enable the police to clamp down on all criminals in the society.
Meanwhile, the regional police command has initiated moves to give the regional police headquarters a facelift.
To this end, an estimated GH¢2,500 has been earmarked to be used to fund the refurbishment, which included painting, replacement of old electric cables among other minor works.