Tafo unrest: 40 arrested

Forty suspects have been arrested in connection with Wednesday’s bloody clashes at Old Tafo which led to the death of one person, the Public Relations Officer of the Ashanti Regional Police Command, ASP Mohammed Yusif Tanko, has confirmed.

Violent clashes between Muslim youth and traditional authorities over a cemetery boundary resulted in several injuries and destruction of property, including the burning of a bank, a mosque and six churches.

ASP Tanko said the suspects will be screened and those found culpable will be prosecuted for disturbing the public peace and destroying property.

Top security officials from Accra have been meeting with the chief of Tafo and other stakeholders to address the situation.

A dusk-to-dawn curfew has been imposed on the town following the clashes.

Class News’ regional correspondent, Frank Jackson, reports that the clashes started after the locals, on the orders of the chief of Tafo, pulled down a fence put up by the Muslims, who are laying claim to a portion of the cemetery.

The incensed Muslims armed themselves with cudgels, double-edged machetes, hammers and other crude weapons and launched an attack on the young men, who pulled down the fence.