Upper West Police Command apprehensive of Fulani's herdsmen

Wa, April 6, GNA - Mr George Ankobil, Upper West Regional Police Commander on Thursday expressed dissatisfaction at the influx of Fulani herdsmen in the Region.

He said their influx was creating panic and insecurity due to public perception that they were often armed, engage in cattle rustling and could kill or rape women in the bush and other criminal activities. Mr Ankobil who was speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) appealed to the government to come out with laws that would scare and discourage the Fulani's and other illegal migrants. The Regional Police Commander advised chiefs and Landlords not to encourage illegal immigrants to settle in their communities. "Taking petty gifts from them to allow them to settle in your areas will not only create problems for your communities, but will jeopardise the security of the country," he said.

He called on members of the community members to report the criminal activities of the Fulani's to the Regional Police Command for action.

When the GNA contacted Mr Emmanuel Okpata, Regional Commander of Ghana Immigration Services, he warned the public to be vigilant and report the activities of the nomads. He said those who were duly registered by his office with resident permits were behaving well in society, but "the nomads who had no settlements were the dangerous ones."

Mr Okpata called for the intervention of Ghana Armed Forces to locate and arrest nomads who had taken to the bush. He expressed dissatisfaction that there was no law restricting their movement. 06 April 06