Kafaba Chief arrested over murder of 90-yr-old woman
Police in the Savannah Region have arrested the Chief of Kafaba, the area in which a 90-year-old woman was lynched over accusations of witchcraft.
The Regional Commander, DCOP Enoch Adutwum Bediako, told theghanareport.com that the Chief, Seidu Yahaya, was arrested in the early hours of Tuesday, July 28, 2020.
“He is in police custody. He is helping in investigations. We are interrogating him to know his role in the incident,” DCOP Bediako said.
When asked if the police had any reason to suspect the Chief had a hand in the gruesome murder of the frail 90-year-old Mariama Akua Denteh, DCOP Bediako said, “he is the Chief of the town and the incident happened in his town”.
He added that “if in the long run, we find out he is not culpable, we will let him go,” he told theghanareport.com in an interview.
The Chief had earlier condemned the killing of Madam Deteh and dissociated himself from the lynching.
He told Accra-based TV3 that he did not invite the soothsayer who declared Madam Denteh a witch into the town, hence could not have sanctioned her murder.
Other arrests
Speaking to theghanareport.com in an interview, the Regional police commander, DCOP Enoch Bediako Adutwum said apart from the arrest of the Chief Kafaba, no other individual had been arrested.
“We have not laid hands on those who led the killing. We are still investigating,” he said.
He, however, called for calm as the police intensify its search for killers of Madam Denteh.
The soothsayer who has been identified as Filina stormed the town with her accomplices to allegedly drive out witches who they accused of being behind the misfortunes of the town.
Filina and her accomplices were captured in a video kicking, whipping and slapping the old woman in the full glare on a large crowd on Thursday.
The gleeful crowd cheered the two women on as they assaulted and accused nonagenarian of witchcraft.
The deceased, before giving up the ghost, was seen pleading with her attackers to spare her life as she denied the accusations.
The amateur video which has since gone viral has sparked a public outcry with many including NGOs, institutions, and individuals calling for the arrest of the perpetrators.
Mr. Oppong-Boanuh also dispatched a team of homicide experts to the town to fish out the suspects of the heinous crime.
Akufo-Addo, others condemn lynching of 90-year-old
Following the murder of 90-year-old, several groups and individuals including President Akufo-Addo have expressed their disgust over the actions of the people of Kafaba.
President Akufo-Addo during his tour of the Savannah Region said the killing had “disfigured the face of our nation”.
He called on the police to be swift in their investigations to arrest those behind the unfortunate incident.
“I hope that the quick response of the police will lead to the rapid administration of justice in this unfortunate matter,” the President said.
He also offered some financial support to advocacy efforts in the wake of the killing.
“I will make an appropriate contribution to the Akua Denteh Foundation to express my own revulsion at the awful, tragic act that has occurred in this region.”
Residents flee town
DCOP in his interaction with theghanareport.com said the entire township of Kafaba, the area where the 90-year-old was killed, has been “deserted“.
“The youth have deserted the town. They say they’re wanted by the police.”
DCOP Adutwum, however, warned that “they can run away, but they cannot hide”.
In addition, he assured that the police would do all within its power to arrest persons who lynched the 90-year-old.
It’s a shame when people take the law in they’re ✋ hands .