Security analyst, Dr Kwesi Aning has described as “disturbing,” a directive by the Eastern Regional Police Commander, DCOP Awuntubuge Awuni to his personnel to shoot to kill cattle belonging to Fulani herdsmen.
The commander explained that sometimes these cattle are deliberately directed by the herdsmen to charge at the security officers trying to maintain peace in the area.
However according to Dr Aning, such comments have the potential to damage the country’s international reputation and pose a threat to the country’s security.
[contextly_sidebar id=”RtZeNzNXKaqDjCMLa1cxYenvkfGNlZzO”]He gave the order during the re-launch of the campaign, ‘Operation Cow Leg” aimed at driving out some Fulani herdsmen who seem to be causing trouble in the region.
“…There are occasions when cows are directed towards security personnel when they are trying to enforce law and order as far as the Fulani herdsmen are concerned and my instruction is that gun down the cows who will be directed to you. You need to live to be able to enforce law and order but don’t just go there and start killing animals. Until you lives are put in danger be very professional. We want to make sure that the people who live in these areas live their lives in peace,” he added.
But speaking on the Ghana Report programme on Viasat One TV, the security analyst argued that the role of the Police is to save lives and property and not to destroy them.
He said “I was shocked by this directive to shoot to kill cattle, someone’s economic investment. When we are to do an economic evaluation of the contributions of Fulani herdsmen to the Ghanaian economy, I think people will be very surprised.”
“For a senior Police officer whose mandate under Act 315 of 1970 is to protect lives and property is instructing his men to shoot to kill, an economic investment and quite a heavy economic investment is very disturbing. It is such statement that is tarnishing the shine of Ghana’s international reputation,” he added.
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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana