Knife
Another woman has been found dead at Vume near Sogakofe in the South Tongu District of the Volta Region.
The body of the deceased, whom residents described as the latest victim of the ritual killings plaguing the area in recent times, was found at the lavatory of the Vume Roman Catholic Primary School last Saturday morning.
The woman was believed to be in her early twenties and said to be mentally challenged.
Residents who knew her said she had been loitering around the Tefle, Vume and Sogakofe areas and was last seen between 7pm and 8pm on Friday prior to her horrid death.
Her death brought to six the number of suspected serial murders in the Tefle, Vume, Sokpoe and Kpotame areas- all near Sogakofe- this year alone and a total of between eight and nine since late last year.
It would also amount to about 15 murders in the last eight years, with the latest being the fifth mentally challenged victim to be killed, according to Diemenu, a presenter at Tongu Radio, a local radio station.
A pupil of Vume RC Primary School told Radio Tongu that he had gone to use the facility when he found the dead woman.
Another person noted that the lady had a bushy hair and a red band tied around her neck in a very suspicious way. She added that her accent suggested that she might have some Togolese affiliation.
Her face was close to the toilet pot while a syringe mark was seen on her back, suggesting that her blood was drawn. Unlike the earlier victims, none of her vital parts was cut off, even though she was found naked, with faeces on her.
Eyewitnesses also believed that she was murdered elsewhere and dragged to the lavatory.
About a month ago, another woman who was identified by relatives as Cecilia Dakpenese from the Heviefeme family of Sokpoe was also murdered in a similar fashion.
The discovery of Cecilia?s body in May added to those discovered on 10th January, 22 January, and 16th May, 2012 among others.
The body was found at Tefle opposite the residence of Dr. Godfried Kportufe Agama, former Governor of the Bank of Ghana and close to the property of ex-President Jerry John Rawlings. Her legs were wide open and covered with palm fronds.
The body had ropes around the legs and hands, indicating that she was tied up by the suspected killers before she was killed, with vital parts missing just like with earlier victims.
Residents blamed the authorities for not doing enough to put an end to the serial killings.
This made the District Security Committee (DISEC), in consultation with the chiefs of the area, institute a ban on drumming and noise making in the affected area.
The police also intensified patrols, yet it appeared the perpetrators were elusive.
The Sogakofe District Police Commander, John Opoku, who confirmed the incident on Accra based Joy Fm, said investigations had started to establish the facts and that all information had been relayed to the CID headquarters to establish the truth with ?concrete evidence?.
The District Chief Executive, Daniel Kwadzo Amelorku, who spoke on Tongu Radio, said, ?I am dumfounded.?
He noted that the perpetrators who usually dumped their victims by the roadside and bushes, had now ventured into the main towns.
He said the trend was a great worry and urged residents to be vigilant and avoid staying out late.
Some women who spoke to DAILY GUIDE noted that they were living in fear.
One of them, Ami Klutse, said, ?All I fear is who will be next.? She lamented over the inadequacy of street lights and patrol vans for the police to cover the area properly.
From Fred Duodu, Vume
