CESTOS, River Cess – Superintendent Matthew Z. Daniels of River Cess has drawn attention to what he says is an increase in unexplained deaths in the county over the past year.
Daniels told reporters recently that county residents are being killed on a regular basis with no serious investigation or explanation, and it is due to the low number of police officers in the county. He said there are only 16 police officers in the entire county, and there are some districts without any police presence.
“Ritualistic killing is rampant in the county,†he said, adding that in 2016, approximately 50 people were murdered by ritualistic killers.
Superintendent Matthew Z. Daniels of River Cess. Photo: Eric Duoe
The superintendent did not say what is being done to curb the situation, but the county inspector, Trokon Browne, said talks are being held with the county’s legislative caucus to ensure that security is improved in the county.
“We have had series of meetings with our lawmakers to ensure that enough officers are sent in the county,” Browne said. “Security is a major concern in this county, and we as [the] county’s authority need to act fast.”
According to 2008 census, River Cess has a population of 71,509, which means there are more than 4,400 persons under the protection of each police officer. With two percent of the country’s population, River Cess is getting far lower than its fair share of police personnel assigned – at 0.3 percent of the police force. If police officers were distributed proportionately across counties, River Cess should have at least 104 officers.
Authorities believe that the lack of police presence in all major towns has emboldened criminals to carry on their acts.
In April 2016, three-year-old Hezekiah Paygar went missing in Teekpeh Town in Central River Cess District. He was found dead eight days later with fresh blood running from his nose. That same month in Cestos City, 13-year-old Enoch Koffie left his Gbar Town residence and was discovered dead in a river three hours later.
A few months later, three persons, including two boys between the ages of 11 and 14, and a man believed to be in his early 20s, from the Ghanaian Community in Cestos City, went fishing and are yet to be found.
18-year-old Togar Gbotoe went missing while bathing at a creek in Yarpah Town in the month of September. A search was launched that same day and he was never found; the next day, his lifeless body was found in the creek.
Mina Joe, an 8-year-old boy, went missing in the Ghanaian Community in Cestos City in November. The next day, he was found dead in the same community after Inspector Browne threatened to have everyone in the area arrested.
Apart from the Joe case, where some people were arrested, detained, and released later without investigation, no arrests were made in any of the above cases.
Residents of the county now live in fear of traveling alone and going in secluded places.
“This time we are scared to dig out cassava, because of the ‘heartmen,’” a woman told The Bush chicken, using the term to describe ritualistic killers.
Featured photo by Eric Duoe
