Man killed in yam fight

Front Page: Daily Graphic, October 3, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
A FIGHT between two farmers over the alleged theft of yam has resulted in the death of one of them after the deceased’s son, in his attempt to rescue his father, rather shot him.
In the bizarre incident which occurred on a farm at Bugubele, near Tumu, the other person in the fight sustained multiple machete wounds after the deceased’s son and three others allegedly vented their anger on him and took him for dead.
Presently, the Upper West Regional Police are holding Sumani Saaka Jnr of Bugubele in custody for the murder of his father, while the other farmer, Bashiru Salifu, who was embroiled in the fight with Saaka Snr, is on admission at the Upper West Regional Hospital.
Salifu is receiving treatment from multiple machete wounds allegedly inflicted on him by Saaka Jnr and three others currently at large.
The Upper West Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Alex Bedia, told the Daily Graphic yesterday that Saaka Jnr reported to the police about 2:30 p.m. on September 13, 2009 that his father had not returned from the farm since morning and indicated that he (the father) might have allegedly been murdered by Salifu.
He said Saaka Jnr then led the police to a spot in the bush about two miles from the town where the body of Sumani Saaka Snr, 47, was found with deep wounds suspected to be caused by gunshots on the left thigh.
According to ACP Bedia, the mutilated left thigh created the impression that Saaka Snr might have been shot from behind at a close range.
He said a further search in the area led to the discovery of an unconscious Salifu in a pool of blood, with multiple machete wounds all over his body.
He said the body of Sumani Snr was conveyed to the Wa Regional Hospital mortuary for autopsy, while Salifu was admitted at the same hospital, where he is responding to treatment.
ACP Bedia said the police made a second visit to the scene of the crime the next day, together with Saaka Jnr, where he pointed to the spot where he had allegedly found the father lying with the gunshot wound.
He said the police found a piece of bone suspected to have fallen from the thigh of the deceased and the empty shell of a cartridge.
According to him, the police also found a hat belonging to Salifu at the spot where he was found with the machete wounds.
The police boss said investigations revealed that the deceased and Salifu had their farms close to each other.
ACP Bedia said on the day of the incident, the deceased visited his farm and noticed that someone had harvested his yam.
He said the deceased suspected that Salifu might have harvested the yam and so he, together with three others, confronted Salifu.
He said in the process, a fight broke out between the deceased and Salifu but Salifu was able to overpower the deceased, while the other three stood watching.
ACP Bedia said the deceased allegedly ordered his son, who was then holding a gun belonging to his father, to shoot at Salifu, but the bullet rather hit the deceased’s left thigh.
He said the three others then vented their anger on Salifu and started slashing him with machetes until he became unconscious.
He said the assailants then took Salifu for dead and abandoned him in the bush before attempting to convey Saaka Snr to hospital but he died on the way.
ACP Bedia said Saaka Jnr then rushed to the police, on realising that his father had died, and reported that Salifu had killed him.
He said Saaka Jnr had, however, denied shooting his father and also going to the farm with the three others.
He said the police were yet to retrieve the exhibit gun and the machete and also arrest the other suspects currently at large.
He said a post-mortem performed on Saaka Snr indicated that he died from haemorrhage shock and secondary shot injury of the left thigh.