<<Print>>

The family members of the 66 year-old woman, who was beaten to death at Pelungu in the Nabdam District of the Upper East Region after being accused of bewitching a woman in Logre, say 'justice' must be done to the deceased.

They also called on the police to arrest the chief of Pelungu to assist investigations into the demise of the alleged witch.

The deceased, Miss Yenpoka Kenna, was subjected to mob justice at Pelungu Chief's palace on Sunday May 28, this year for allegedly bewitching a woman at Logre, a suburb of Nabdam. She died about 10:00 AM Monday.

The Divisional Chief of Pelungu, Naba Ben Gaani Sore, whose Chieftaincy title is known as Naba Sierig Sobil, could not control the rampaging youth from unleashing attack on the woman as they were already choreographed to pursue a vendetta against her(the alleged witch)

Speaking to Peace FM Upper East Regional Correspondent, Francis Dabre Dabang, a family member, Wobire Abanga, condemns the attack on the deceased, describing the action of the youth as 'wicked and lawless'.

He says that Naba Sore is also to be blamed squarely for allowing the youth to attack and kill the 'supposed' witch over an allegation which cannot be backed with any convincing evidence.

"We were shocked to have seen the chief acted that way. The Chief knew very well that we (the family members) were not security personnel, so how could we protect the 'witch' from the angry mob?

"We told Chief to allow the woman (now, late Yenpoka) perch at his palace until the next morning since we knew what was going to befall her (the alleged witch) at that late hour, but he (Chief Sobil or Ben Gaani) never listened to our plea", a family member, Tii Lansing, told Peacefmonline.com in an interview at Damol-Tindongo.

He, however, demands justice be served the deceased, and also calls on authorities of the Ghana Police Service to launch a full scale probe into the matter, adding Naba Sore 'must' be arrested for mishandling the issue.

He added: "the chief in his response to our plea to allow the woman(the alleged witchcraft terrorist) said 'my palace is not a police cell so I can admit her here'. We(the family members) were discomfortable with the Chief's comment".

The Assembly Man for Damol-Tindongo Electoral Area, Emmanuel Salongbire Seluk, said the family of the deceased was in grief, adding the police must act decisively to arrest the culprits and drag them before the law court to face the full rigours of the law of the land.

He, moreover, pointed out that: "the law must take its cause. Whosoever was behind the killing of the woman must be arrested to assist investigations. We can't afford to live in a lawless society.

"Even if.....even if someone has gone against a fellow colleague, must he or she suffer the punishment of lynching? You need to report every wrong doing to the police. This instant justice must not be encouraged".

When contacted, the Chief of Pelungu, Naba Sore, told Peace news he did nothing wrong for releasing the alleged witch to her family to be taken home, saying he never knew Miss Kenna would be attacked by the youth on her way home.

He said the deceased, who was summoned before his palace, confessed to the crime, but he could not convict her since the laws of the land did not recognise witchcraft.

Meanwhile, the Criminal Investigations Department, CID of the Ghana Police Service, has started its investigations into the matter, promising it would do a diligent work in that regard.

The body of the deceased has been handed over to her late husband's family at Benzure, a community in Sekoti for burial.