Residents of Droboso and its environs in the Brong Ahafo Region, are living in fear following reports of grave looting in the area.
Over the weekend, residents woke up to the shocking news of a suspected grave looting at the Methodist Church Cemetery with some bodies either burnt or vital parts of the bodies gone missing.
This heightened the perception that the heinous crime is being committed for ritual purposes.
Meanwhile, the youth in the area have threatened to deal with anybody they suspect to be behind the act.
The residents are therefore calling on authorities and the traditional council to step up security to ensure that the practice is stopped and residents are safe. The Unit Committee Chairman, Mmerantehene Osei Kofi, who confirmed the incident to Citi News, disclosed that there were seven cemeteries in area.
One each for Muslims, Catholics, Methodists, Traditionalists and the Droboso, Wenchi and Benkro Royal burial sites. “In recent times, I have been getting reports of such activities going on and so I decided to see things for myself. I went to the place and what I saw was despicable and beats human imagination. They forced and opened one grave at the site for the traditionalist, brought out the bones of the person and burned some parts, took away some vital parts leaving only the skull. At the Methodist Cemetery, they broke five graves and took away what they wanted”, he fumed.
He said he had reported the situation to the Assemblyman and the Traditional Authorities for the necessary traditional rituals to be performed for the bodies to be buried again. He added that, the identity and motive of the perpetrators of the act were yet to be established as they prepare to officially report the incident to the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) and the Police for investigations to commence.
The Unit Committee Chairman cautioned that, if the issue was not immediately resolved, it will create insecurity in the area, and negatively affect the socio-economic and psychological well-being of residents.
“Apprehending the perpetrators would boost the confidence of the people, and make them secure and therefore I appeal to the Municipal Security Council (MUSEC) and traditional authorities to team up and bring an end to the problem”, he added.