The Brong-Ahafo Regional Police Command has launched a special operation to flush out Fulani herdsmen in the region.
The combined military-police exercise codenamed ‘Operation Cow Leg,’ which began about three days ago, is being carried out simultaneously in all the districts in the region under the seven divisions, namely Atebubu, Berekum, Dormaa, Goaso, Kintampo, Techiman and Wenchi.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Christopher Tawiah, the Regional Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), yesterday hinted DAILY GUIDE that the operation is aimed at minimising attacks on motorists by persons of Fulani extraction and also stop the invasion of farmlands of local farmers by the herdsmen.
ASP Tawiah disclosed that in each district, 10 military personnel, eight police officers and one Immigration officer have been deployed to effectively carry out the operation.
According to him, investigations had revealed that the Fulani herdsmen carried out most of the highway robbery attacks in the region.
The PRO explained that the Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP), Maxwell Sakipasgo Atingane, who initiated the operations, had vowed to make the region, especially the roads safe for all motorists.
He explained that the exercise would continue until the nefarious activities of armed robbers are stopped.
ASP Tawiah said most of the Fulani herdsmen who travel to Ghana through illegal routes from neighbouring countries like Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger are in the country to engage in robbery activities.
He said the herdsmen usually move their animals through the bushes to the areas where the roads are bad and attack motorists there.
There have been several reported cases of deadly clashes between local farmers and some Fulani herdsmen in the region, especially in Pru and Atebubu areas where farmers have accused them of destroying their farms.
In some communities at the Nkoranza North District, for instance, local women are unable to go to their farms for fear of being raped.
It is estimated that over 10,000 Fulani herdsmen and their families have pitched camp in various cottages and villages across the region alone.
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