In Madina, a neighbourhood of the city of Nkwanta in Oti Region, two accused goat thieves were paraded around the town with their stolen goods.
The citizens’ response was meant to serve as a warning to others.
The two suspects, Yakubu Mohammed, 21, and Rashid Alhassan, 26, were booed and despised as they marched through the streets of the neighbourhood.
Residents headed by Zongo Youth Chief Alidu Suraj Musah allegedly arrested the two.
While walking from one section of Nkwanta to another, the two suspects were compelled by the community to carry the dead goats on their heads. The people were unmoved by their pleadings and sobs.
Residents who saw the incident thought the penalty given to the suspects was appropriate and will go a long way toward making theft an undesirable activity for residents.
They were eventually transferred to the Nkwanta police for investigation and prosecution.
On Monday, July 18, 2022, the Nkwanta Divisional Crime Officer, ASP Lawrence Wiafe, confirmed the event to DGN Online and added that the culprits were brought before the Nkwanta District Court.
He has yet to be informed of the proceedings’ conclusion, though.
According to Zongo Youth Chief, Suraj Alidu, citizens have been very enraged by the high incidence of theft in the region and decided to parade the suspects around the town.
That way, the police could carry out their duties while the community was able to settle down and go on with their lives.
In order to maintain peace and order, he said, the community’s leaders are committed to cooperating with the police. This is why local residents have formed monitoring organizations to guarantee that offenders are turned over to authorities without being subjected to any violation of their civil rights.
Posted by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh
