Audio By Carbonatix
The Sekyere Central District of the Ashanti region has become the next stop for herdsmen and their cattle fleeing a crackdown at Agogo where their activities have been blamed for the loss of farmlands and lives.
Areas such as Jeduako, Asare Nkwanta No. 1 & 2, Bonkwaemu, Esereso, Ntrodo, Nkodua-Aframso among others are now the new destination of the herdsmen.
Some of them have built camps made out of straw and grass fitted with nylon mats.
Already, their presence has alarmed Nsuta police who fear the crisis that engulfed Agogo has been passed on to them.
Nsuta District Police Commander, DSP Charles Atuah says the police in the District are overwhelmed by the presence of the herdsmen and their cattle.
"I think it is going to be a very difficult task for us," he said.
Mr. Atuah who has been leading police operations in areas such as Asare Nkwanta and Jeduako says the police there are overstretched.
"It has gotten a serious impact on us because as they are pushing out of Agogo, most of them are moving towards our area here... most of them are going to stay here", he dreaded.
The Police Commander and the reporter witnessed an incident where they had to flee on-rushing horde. The officers suspect the herdsman in charge, who is from Nigeria, unleashed the beasts on them.
"We took cover. We have to take cover for us to know the direction that they were going so that we can to pursue them," he explained.
DSP Atuah admits the police find it difficult flushing out the herdsmen and cattle from the area.
"I have to be frank. It is very, very difficult because they are in the bush, hiding and we are walking getting to where we have information that they are operating. If you happen to be there, they can shoot and attack you," he said.
According to DSP Atuah, the police are logistically constrained to flush out the cattle who have started feeding on residents' food crops such as maize and rice.
He wants the Operation Cowleg team to extend its operations to the area.
"We are pleading with the authorities to extend their [police-military] operation to this end so that we would be able to get them out of the region and all of us would be free."
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