Juapong youth threaten to oust Fulanis

Some irate youth of Juapong in the North Tongu district of the Volta Region are threatening to flush out Fulani herdsmen in the area.

The youth, who are members of ACORN Fan Club issued the threats following destruction to an agricultural project they have embarked upon by cattle belonging to some Fulani herdsmen in the area.

Several acres of corn and cassava belonging to the group have been destroyed by cattle belonging to the herdsmen.

Wisdom Edem Sokro, President of ACORN Fan Club, said due to huge unemployment in the area, the youth decided to come together and commence an agricultural project with the aim of using proceeds that will be derived from the farm to help members to start some other businesses.

He wondered why such an investment should be allowed to go down the drain due to lack of respect for law and order in the Juapong area by Fulani herdsmen.

According to him, several reports made to the police in Juapong have not yielded results, leaving them with no choice than to tackle the issue by themselves.

Mr Sokro said leaders of his club can no longer guarantee the safety of Fulani herdsmen and their animals in the area since members of the club and other youth in the area are now fed up “and armed to the teeth in defence of their property”.

Issues of Fulani herdsmen and their animals causing destruction to farms have been experienced in several parts of the country including Agogo and Adaklu, with Juapong being the latest.

Several calls by chiefs and opinion leaders for herdsmen to desist from taking animals close to people’s farms have all fallen on deaf ears.

Mr Sokro is, therefore, appealing to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), David Asante-Apeatu, to, as a matter of urgency, instruct the police at Juapong to deal with the situation by calling the herdsmen in the area to order to avoid possible clashes.

He also has cautioned youth in the area to desist from engaging in any acts of lawlessness but rather leave the matter to the IGP, adding that the “youth are highly disappointed in the police in Juapong”.