DSP Benjamin Samani, Millennium City Commander
A
suspected arson nearly resulted in the death of a 14-year-old boy at Millennium
City, near Kasoa in the Central Region.
The
incident, which is reported to have occurred around 12 midnight on Saturday, 28th
September 2019, is believed to have been orchestrated by one ‘Big Man’ at
Nyanyano, also near Kasoa.
Explaining
the incident to DAILY GUIDE, Austin Gaiakpa, elder brother of the victim, said
that he was there in the early hours of 29th September 2019 when he
received a distress call from her sister, Nora Gaiakpa, informing him that
someone had set her food joint ablaze in the night.
He
said he followed up and found out that the report was true. He subsequently
made a formal complaint to the police and also contacted the National Disaster
Management Organization (NADMO) for support.
Nora
Gaiakpa, owner of the burnt food joint, confirmed the incident. She said on
that fateful Saturday, she attended church service with some members of her
family at Awoshie, leaving the 14-year-old Lafornaku Abraham in the care of his
elder brother, Nathan Beyiwo.
According
to her, she was called in the early hours of Sunday that her food joint had
been burnt down, which she confirmed when she rushed there.
She
added that she suspected ‘Big Man’ for being responsible for the arson.
According
to her, she has been selling there for over 12 years and used to pay GH¢150 to
the suspect until the place developed.
She
said ‘Big Man’ threatened to ensure that she left the place and actually gave
the place out to someone, who is erecting a structure at where her joint used
to be barely three days after the incident.
Narrating
his ordeal to this paper, Lafornaku Abraham said he was fast asleep in the
structure when the intensity of heat woke him up, and when he realized that the
place was on fire, he ran away and was lucky to escape unhurt. He saved his
brother, Nathan, who had minor heat burns around his neck and face.
The
Commander, DSP Benjamin Samani, acted swiftly the moment he received the case in
the presence of this reporter, calling all personnel involved in the case and
ordering the arrest of ‘Big Man’.
He
gave an assurance that the command would do everything legally available to
them to get to the bottom of the matter.
By Frederick E. Aggrey
