Mob attempts to kidnap forestry officer

Dormaa-Ahenkro (B/A), July 14, GNA- Mr Bernard Tabil, Dormaa District Forestry Officer, was at the weekend assaulted by a mob who allegedly attempted to kidnap him near his residence at Dormaa-Ahenkro in Brong Ahafo.

Narrating his ordeal to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) Mr. Tabil, 35, said he was on his way home after work last Friday when the mob numbering about 30 to 35 attacked him.

He said the mob allegedly claimed that Nana Akosua Fema Dwabeng, Queen mother of the Dormaa Traditional Area, had instructed them to bring him to the Palace.

The forestry officer said he declined to go with them "since I found it inappropriate to respond to the call at that time of the day and promised to be at the palace the next morning.

"The group insisted and attempted to push me into a Tico taxi and this resulted in an exchange of blows between me and some of them for about 30 minutes."

Mr Tabil said the timely intervention of one Sergeant Stanley, a member of military personnel on duty in the district, saved him else he would have been lynched by the group.

''During the struggle my bag and purse containing some vital documents and money were taken away,'' the forestry officer who received injuries and was treated at the Presbyterian Hospital in Dormaa Ahenkro said.

He said just before the soldier's intervention, Mr. Baffour Twene, a brother of the Queen mother who was with the group, called on the rest to leave him (Tabil) alone.

Mr. Tabil said he suspected his untiring effort to stop illegal timber operations at Twene also in the District was the root cause of the attempted kidnap.

Mr. Charles Samuel Moses Brew Jnr, Superintendent of Police in-charge of Dormaa District when contacted confirmed the story and said that two drivers, Isaac Asare and Kwaku Ansu, had been arrested by the Police to assist in investigations.