Over the past weeks, there have been rampant armed robberies at Kyebi, the traditional capital of the Akyem Abuakwa State, in the Eastern Region, with some of the attacks resulting in shooting to death of victims.
Worried over the development, which is alien to the rather peaceful and hospitable town, the chief of Kyebi, Osaberima Kwabinane Marfo, has met with the youth to devise ways to curb the menace.
Organised at the request of the Okyenhene Akwansrahene, Kwame Asiedu, all the assembly members of the three electoral areas that constitute Kyebi namely; Newtown, Ahenebronum and Bronikrom were present at the meeting.
The meeting, which was chaired by the Kyebihene, Osabarima Kwabinane Marfo, also had in attendance the East Akim Divisional Police Commander, Twumasi Ankrah and the East Akim District Police Commander, Chief Sam. It was held on Sunday, May 30, 2021 at the Community Centre at Kyebi.
The youth, who prior to the meeting had expressed worry over the armed robbery cases, turned up in their numbers, ready to assist to end the menace.
In his remark, the Kyebihene reminded the youth about the need to be each other’s keeper.
According to him, the development was not known in the town and as such must be dealt with as quickly as possible.
He asked the youth to be ready to volunteer information to the Police if any person with suspicious character is seen in the town, especially strangers.
The chief acknowledged that, Kyebi is wildly known for its accommodating and hospitable nature, butthe indigenes should not allow strangers to take advantage of that to give it a bad name.
“Kyebi is a peaceful town. Don’t be money conscious or try to become rich easily because others are. You don’t know what they did. This town is for us, so we have to protect it and give out the bad people who want to tarnish our image,” Osaberima Kwabinane Marfo told the youth, adding “Kyebi is also called gyeahorhor [to wit; welcome strangers]. If you are a stranger, come and work and go. We (natives) don’t have to aid them (strangers) to do bad things.
“People from Mali and Ivory Coast come to the town and are able to get accommodation, but if you suspect anyone, bring it for us to fish them (people with strange characters) out.”
Responding to concerns of mistrust of the Police, such that if one volunteers information, the Service would give them out, the chief urged the residents who are not comfortable giving sensitive information to the Police to come to him, assuring them of not exposing them to danger.
By way of enticing the residents not to hide information from the police, Osaberima noted that the Police has a reward for whoever provides credible information, which can lead to the arrest of robbers.
The Chronicle was in Kyebi days before the meeting and picked up information about the recent spate of armed robbery in the town, as a result of the ban on illegal mining, also known as galamsey.
The youth bemoaned the hardship they were going through, having been home for weeks since the commencement of the renewed fight against galamseyby the government.
The Chroniclealso interacted with several people, who said those shot by the robbers were gold buyers, therefore, linking the armed robberies to the ban on galamsey.
Meanwhile, the East Akim District Police Commander, Chief Sam, addressing the youth at the meeting, disagreed with that perception. Though the paper’s investigation on the ground gave the total armed robbery cases, including the killings, to be 6 in less than a month, the District Commander mentioned 4 at the meeting.
He said the incidents occurred separately at Newtown, Pano andAsikam, but he did not mentionthe fourth location, exceptsaying that the Police were able to foil it.
“When we investigated the Newtown and Pano robberies, and the foiled one, we realised the victims were gold buyers,” he remarked, asking himself, why gold buyers?
According to the Commander, all the crimes happened in the hours of 7pm, 8pm and 9pm in the evenings, by which time these victims had just returned from work.
He said another analysis by the Police showed that all monies involved in the various robberies were kept in the booth of cars of the victims.
Whilst advising people to watch who they give personal information to, he also pointed out that but for persons who are close to the victims, wherethey hide their money would be difficult for the robbers to know.
Chief Sam had earlier told the meeting that not long ago, a Toyota Highlander was used to steal 16 goats. He added that the District Command pursued the thieves, who later abandoned the vehicle at Asiakwa, an adjourning town from Kyebi to Kumasi.
In another case, a Toyota Corolla was used to steal 20 goats, but the Police managed to arrest the thieves, citing all this to make a point that the Police thrive on information.
The Divisional Commander, Twumasi, whose remarks preceded the District Commander,showed how they were successful at Techiman because the residents volunteered information.
Though the meeting was not conclusive, there was an agreement to form a community watch dog committee to work with the Police. The formation is expected to have volunteers of five, from each community in the town.
The chief assured he would discuss with his elders to provide items with torch lights, boots and other logistics, as well as devise ways to motivate the volunteers periodically.
The youth, who sounded positive at the decision, clapped in agreement and suggested the mounting of Police barriers at vantage points in the town.
Meanwhile, at the time of filing this report yesterday, another meeting was expected to take place, where list of the volunteers would be given to the chief and the police command and also to discuss further actions to be taken to address the armed robbery cases.
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