The Abuakwa township in the Atwima Nwabiagya District of Ashanti witnessed one of the most bizarre incidents in recent times around 1:30am Monday, when an unknown assailant wielding a sharpened machete entered the room of a widow and beheaded her 13-year-old Junior High School (JHS) son, Richard Akwasi Opoku.
The widow, Mrs Felicity Opoku who lost her husband, Pastor Johnson Opoku barely two weeks ago, and her 15-year old daughter, Rita Opoku, were not spared either, as the assailant turned the sharp machete at them when they raised alarm.
While Mrs Felicia Opoku sustained several body injuries during the attack, causing her to bleed profusely, Rita sustained injuries at the left shoulder, spilling much blood from her.
The body of Richard Akwasi Opoku has been deposited at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) mortuary pending autopsy.
Mrs Opoku and her daughter have also been rushed to the Emergency Unit of the KATH where medical officers are working around the clock to save their lives.
Information available to Graphic Online indicates that the assailant took advantage of a power outage and attacked his victims, using a touch light as a source of light to identify them.
When Graphic Online visited the crime scene at Abuakwa, family members, friends and sympathisers had gathered and weeping uncontrollably, while others had grouped at separate areas and questioning why the family who were yet to recover from the death of their breadwinner could be subjected to such inhumane attack.
A source said apart from Mrs Opoku and her two children, her younger sister was also in the room at the time the assailant entered, but the assailant jumped over the younger sister after identifying her with the touch light and rather attacked young Opoku who was sleeping next to her.
The source said the young boy who attends Tweneboah Koduah Junior High School at Abuakwa was sleeping in prone position, so he died instantly after the assailant slashed the throat.
The Ashanti Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mohammed Yusif Tanko who confirmed the story also told Graphic Online that initial investigations have ruled out any act of robbery.
He said because of the state of Mrs Opoku, police were yet to speak with her.
“The woman was severely injured during the attack, but according to medical officers, the injuries are not life threatening, so we want the woman to recover fully for her to help in our investigations”, the police officer said.
He said their initial investigations showed that the assailant did not take anything from the room.
He also assured that police were providing security for the injured widow and her daughter to ensure their safety, saying “this is to ensure that they recover fully to help in our investigation and unravel the mystery surrounding their attack”.
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