Newly-installed Paramount Chief of the Fodome Traditional Area, Togbega Gbedegbleme Akpatsa II, has expressed uttermost surprise at the level of ignorance exhibited by the Hohoe Divisional Police Command following the arrest of some 15 residents alleged to be Western Togolanders.
Playing the role as a shepherd of Fodome Traditional Area, Togbega Gbedegbleme Akpatsa II, together with "the chiefs and elders made a follow-up to the Hohoe Divisional Police Command to check on the whereabouts of the residents whom they believed were wrongfully accused and arrested.
Surprisingly, the Hohoe Divisional Police Command did not know anything about the arrests nor the whereabouts of the suspects" the paramount chief stated in a press release sighted by GhanaWeb.
He further asserted that "the alleged activists were released on bail after three (3) days of incarceration".
On December 22, 2019, there was a dawn swoop by security agencies in Gblebi Kyebi, Fodome Helu and Kwadzato, towns in the Hohoe Municipality where 15 people, suspected to be members of Western Togoland group were arrested.
Items seized during the operation included; Western Togoland branded shirts, berets, flashlights, boots, police belts, flags of western Togoland, a cheque book and a checklist of items needed for the training.
However, the chief assured government of co-operating fully with them to help clamp down the activities of people that will mar the peace of the country.
Read below the full statement:
DISCLAIMER! DISCLAIMER!! DISCLAIMER!!!
“Precisely on Sunday (22nd December, 2019) at dawn, a group of armed men carried out arrests of fifteen (15) innocent citizens of the Fodome Traditional Area suspected to be Western Togoland activists /secessionists.
The Chiefs and elders made a follow-up to the Hohoe Divisional Police Command to check on their whereabouts.
Surprisingly, the Hohoe Divisional Police Command did not know anything about the arrests nor the whereabouts of the suspects.
Subsequently, the alleged activists were released on bail after three (3) days of incarceration.
As the newly-installed Paramount Chief of the Fodome Traditional Area, I wish to assure the government of Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo that my administration will not countenance any such activities on the soil of Fodome and will co-operate fully with government in clamping down on such activities.
To my dear people of Fodome, I would like to sound a note of warning and caution to everybody to desist from any such acts else when the long arm of the law catches up on them, I will not be in any position to defend any of them.”
80-year-old leader of the group, Papavi Hogbedetor being escorted