Tension is simmering again in parts of the Eastern Region after a dramatic police swoop led to the arrest of ten suspected land guards accused of posing as security operatives during a planned chieftaincy installation.
The suspects were picked up at Adamrobe, a community near Aburi, following what the Ghana Police Service describes as a carefully coordinated joint security operation. They are currently being held in custody in Akuapem South, where they are assisting with ongoing investigations.
Police say the group had allegedly been mobilised to provide security at a disputed installation of a chief, a development that has already heightened tensions in the area. The operation led to the retrieval of several weapons, including pump-action rifles, ammunition and a taser. Two vehicles believed to be linked to the group were also impounded.
What has raised even more concern is the suspects’ appearance. The suspects were dressed in camouflage uniforms resembling those of the Ghana Immigration Service. Authorities have, however, been quick to clarify that the suspects are not affiliated with the service. Investigators suspect they may be part of a network linked to previous attacks on farmers and landowners in the enclave.
In a scene that drew public attention, the suspects were paraded in their uniforms for identification and questioning. During the process, one of them disclosed the source of the uniforms, stating, “Our boss gave them to us, Hon Mustapha.”
The individuals arrested have been identified as Dawu Joseph, 33, a farmer; Evans Dakavo, 34, a security man; Kwame Aboagye, 34, a vulcaniser; Christian Atsu, 38, a security officer; Samuel Annan, 29, a security man; Thomas Davidson, 34, a security man; Abusapanyin Owusu Paul, 56, a farmer; Richard Agyemang, 30; Jerry John Kwame; and Samuel Kwame.
Police say investigations are ongoing, with efforts underway to unravel the full extent of the group’s activities and identify any possible sponsors or collaborators.
The latest arrests add to growing concerns over the persistent menace of land guards and the role they continue to play in chieftaincy and land disputes across parts of the country.
