Two suspects are in the grips of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Northern Regional Police Command in connection with the attack at Zakoli a fortnight ago in the Yendi municipality.
The raid led to the killing of eight nomadic herdsmen and four others sustaining gunshot injuries in the process by unknown assailants.
The Northern Regional CID Boss, Superintendent Bernard Baba Ananga, who confirmed the arrest in a media interview, said the main suspect has been remanded to assist investigations pertaining to the arrest of the group that staged the attack.
According to him, the suspect is believed to have conveyed the assailants to the Zakoli community with a tricycle to carry out their mission.
Mr. Baba Ananga added the other person in police custody is a female suspect who is also assisting investigators to uncover the perpetrators who are on the run.
“There was an arrest in connection with the Zakoli murder issue that happened recently where 8 Fulanis were killed. One suspect has been arrested and he is helping the police in investigation. A female suspect was also picked up by the police to assist in that regard. The man was arrested in Yendi and the other person in another community where investigations are ongoing to unearth the gang responsible for the attack” he explained.
The Crime Officer noted, “Our main suspect is the man who used his motorking [tricycle] to carry the suspects to the community to carry out this offence has been arrested and he is before court but for now it’s too early for us to come out to say what he is telling us; we are still gathering intelligence, we’re also seeking the assistance of the communities for police to identify other suspects.”
Supt Bernard Baba Ananga indicated police inquiries reveal the assailants have moved from their initial hideouts and are presently at large.
Background
Over 20 gunmen suspected to be Konkomba natives raided the Zakoli community and killed 8 herdsmen and burnt their homes on suspicion of an early robbery attack that led to the killing of a Konkomba man teaching at Yendi.
The deceased persons: Umar Jallo, 30, Kadir Jallo, 24, Yahaya Jallo, 27, Mallam Osman, Alhaji Baako, Saibu Wubi, and another unidentified person have since been buried in line with the Islamic tradition.
Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia led a powerful government delegation to commiserate with the families.
He presented a cash amount of GHS60,000 to aid the medical bills of the injured and the funeral of the deceased persons.
The Vice President gave an assurance on behalf of the government that the heinous crime would not go unpunished.
