Public urged to help arrest grave looters

Winneba (C/R), Jan. 22, GNA - Alhaji Sulemana Salaga, chief of the Muslim community in Winneba, has appealed to residents to assist the police to arrest grave looters who have destroyed about 100 tombs at the Winneba Muslim Chiefs Cemetery.

Alhaji Salaga also called for a probe into the alleged sale of part of the cemetery, which was opened in 1960 that had lead to the construction of buildings on some graves.

Making the call at a press briefing at Winneba on Sunday, Alhaji Salaga expressed regret that although the cemetery shared boundary with that of Christian churches in Winneba, the thieves had targeted only the graves of the departed Muslims.

Commenting on the issue Alhaji Tanko Salaga, Deputy Muslim Chief, described the situation as "heart-breaking, extremely emotional and provoking", adding that personnel from the Winneba Police Command had already inspected the looted graves and scattered human bones at the cemetery.

Alhaji Tanko said besides the police, Muslim leaders had also reported the incidence of grave looting and the alleged sale of parts of the Muslim Chiefs' Cemetery, which was opened in 1960, to certain individuals for housing projects to the Awutu-Effutu-Senya District Administration.

He was optimistic that the Awutu-Effutu-Senya District Security Council (DISEC) under the leadership of the District Chief Executive, Mr. Solomon K. Abbam-Quaye, would help leaders of the Muslim community to find a lasting solution to the problem.

Alhaji Tanko said the looters removed the heads and other vital part from some bodies that were buried recently. He said the team collected several empty Schnapps bottles, which they believed the looters drank before undertaking their operations and some broken parts of empty torchlight believed to have been used by the criminals.

Alhaji Tanko appealed to residents and nearby communities to assist the law enforcement agencies in Winneba to track down the criminals. He assured the District Security Council and the Police Command that Muslim leaders would collaborate with the youth to form a special task force to compliment the efforts of the security agencies to clampdown on the looters. 22 Jan. 07