Joy News is learning that supporters of boxer Bastie Samir were attacked on Saturday night after his shocking victory against Braimah Kamoko.
Samir Bestie stopped Braimah, popularly known as Bukom Banku in the seventh round ending his unbeaten record at the Bukom Boxing Arena in the fight watched by thousands.
But the jubilation for Bastie’s supporters living in Bukom was cut short.
Joy News’ Maxwell Agbagba has been in the community and reports that there is tension among community members.
Supporters of Bukom Banku, Maxwell learned, harassed Bestie’s supporters for jubilating following his victory.
For many of Banku’s fans, they do not understand why as Bukom people they should rejoice over Banku’s loss.
Some of them who spoke to Maxwell said their shops and other properties were set on fire by supporters of Bukom Banku.
“I have been interacting with a gentleman whose makeshift shop where he sells mobile phone credits was destroyed and some of the community members are saying the people who were attacked were fans of Bastie Samir,” Maxwell said.
He added that a gentleman who claimed to be an opinion leader in the community deleted videos his cameraman had taken of the charred buildings.
The same man took his phone and deleted pictures he had personally taken of the destroyed shops as well.
Maxwell and his cameraman were also threatened and asked to leave the community and Bastie’s fans were prevented from speaking to the crew.
“They warned us not to return to the community to report about what happened,” Maxwell said.
It also appears that many of the community members had been warned against speaking to the media about the fight.
“At the Bukom Park we met about 20 gentlemen who were watching a game of football and they told me they just don’t want to comment on the fight that happened on Saturday, otherwise they will get into trouble,” Maxwell recounted.
Those who were bold enough to approach Maxwell, were warned and threatened.
Maxwell also learnt that, but for the timely intervention of the Ghana National Fire Service, many properties and possibily, a major part of the community would have been destroyed by the fire.
There is, however, general calm in the community on Monday. People are going about their daily activities as they normally would.