A 20-year-old man, Oscar Baidoo, who is said to be partially insane, was last Monday allegedly beaten to death by a mob at Kwesimintsim near Takoradi in the Western region for allegedly stabbing a pregnant woman and two others with a pair of scissors.
The pregnant woman, Hajaratu Mohammed was stabbed in the back while the two others, Muniru Yusif of the Community Protection Unit (CPU) at the Kwesimintsim Police Station and one Soraya, a lady, were stabbed in the head and back respectively.
Muniru and Soraya were rushed to the Kwesimintsim Polyclinic where they were treated and discharged; but Hajaratu, who was said to be in a critical condition, was sent to the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital in Sekondi.
Briefing DAILY GUIDE on the incident, Inspector Olivia Ewurabena Adiku, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Western Regional Police Command, said on Monday January 12, 2009 at about 7 am, the deceased went for ‘koko’ from a vendor at Kwesimintsim Zongo.
She said after drinking the ‘koko’, Baidoo who had stood in the area for a while, announced to the hearing of all around that he would die that day but must have someone to accompany him to his grave. ÂÂ
Without further warning, the deceased brought out a pair of scissors from his pocket and started chasing those around. He then stabbed the two women – Hajaratu and Soraya – at the back.
Realising that Baidoo’s action was getting out of hand, Yusif, a passer-by, attempted to arrest Baidoo but was stabbed in the head.
At that point, onlookers rushed on Baidoo, overpowered him, and allegedly lynched him.
Inspector Adiku indicated that the body of the deceased has been deposited at the Effia-Nkwanta Hospital morgue pending autopsy. She added that the police have launched full-scale investigation into the case to bring those who allegedly lynched the deceased to book.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi