A 40-year-old opinion leader at Techiman in the Brong Ahafo region, who defected from the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) last year, has been gunned down by some unknown assailants. The brutal and cold-blooded murder of Mallam Jamjam, which occurred on Friday July 25, 2008 at 7.30 pm, had sent shivers down the spine of most residents of the area. About eight persons were yesterday arrested by the Techiman Police in connection with the gruesome murder, which took place while the victim was on a mat observing his evening (Isha’a) prayers. The deceased, who left behind two wives and nine children, was the Mrantiehene of the Fulani community in Techiman, and had been vociferously campaigning for the NPP in the area until his death. Madam Amina, the senior wife of Mallam Jamjam, told DAILY GUIDE that on that fateful day, a woman who lived close to their house came to inform her that some people were looking for her husband, but since he was praying, she asked the woman to go and that after the prayers she would tell him. She said immediately the woman left, two young men entered the house and without any provocation, one of them pulled a locally-manufactured pistol and shot her husband twice. According to Madam Amina, when she rushed to the scene, one of the assailants pointed a gun at her forehead and threatened to shoot her if she dared make any noise. She said as she turned to run away, she heard yet another gunshot which caught her husband on the arm. When the wives and children of the late Jamjam started shouting for help the assailants bolted before neighbours could rush to the scene. Upon DAILY GUIDE enquiries, Madam Amina said a few months ago, two Fulani boys who robbed some passengers on a bus along the Techiman-Tamale road were shot by the police. She said one of them died on the spot while the other managed to run away, seeking medical treatment at Techiman. Madam Amina said her husband reported the injured robber to the police and the suspect was arrested. According to her, after that incident, some Fulani boys living in the area had been threatening her husband, and at a point, some elders advised the deceased to leave the area to save his life “but my husband did not heed the warning and now the worst has happened”. It would be recalled that DAILY GUIDE published a story sometime last year about the late Jamjam who crossed carpets from the NDC to join the NPP.