The West Mamprusi Municipal Police Command has commenced a manhunt for Habib Sumani, also known as Abilla, in connection with the murder of Madam Poanaa Azaratu Musah on Sunday, 24 September 2023, over a witchcraft allegation.
The allegation was made by the suspect’s father, Alhassan Sumani, who died whilst receiving local treatment for unknown illness in Gambaga.
Apparently angry at the death of his father, and to fulfil the wishes of the dead the suspect shot 60-year-old Poana Musah at the entrance of her home with a hunting gun in Janga, a suburb community around Nasia in West Mamprusi Municipality. As soon as he realized the deceased was dead, he absconded, escaping community attack.
A resident who lives near the deceased told Starr News that the suspect’s father has been accusing the deceased Poana Musah of witchcraft activities for the past four weeks. The suspect’s father told his children to lynch the deceased anytime they announced his death. Despite visiting several native healers, the suspect’s father claimed that his sister was responsible for his illness.
The verbal assault and attack on the deceased was later reported at the chief palace in Janga by family relation since the two deceased were related, despite the witchcraft allegation.
A source close to the chief Palace told Starr News, that the intervention by the chief did not yield any result. They revealed that during a meeting in the chief’s palace, the deceased Poana Musah was asked to visit the shrine for traditional purification, which will determine if she is a witch or not.
The directive of the palace was not adhered to by the deceased Poana Musah. The source said several persuasions to have Poana Musah to visit the shrine failed forcing the suspect’s father to continuously accuse her and call for her lynching if he dies as a result of the illness.
At about 2:30 pm on Sunday 24th of September 2023, the news of the death of the suspect’s father was announced by a relative after a phone call.
Habib Sumani upon hearing the death of his father picked up a hunting gun and went straight to the deceased’s home, where he met the deceased Poana Musah at the entrance and shot her twice. The deceased lost lots of blood in the process leading to her death.
The body of the deceased which was picked up by the police has been deposited at Walewale Government Hospital for further investigation.
However, the police command has also declared a manhunt for the key suspect Habib Sumani and some family members of the late Alhassan Sumani over the death of Madam Poana Musah.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/ Hoenyefia Noah Nash, Tamale