Key suspect in lynching of 90-year-old woman remanded

On August 3, 2020, 2:26 PM

A key suspect arrested in the torturing to death of 90-year-old Akua Denteh at Kafaba in the Savannah Region, has been remanded by the Bole District Magistrate Court.

The accused, Latifah Bumaye, is to reappear after 17 days together with the other five people who were earlier arrested in connection to the death of the nonagenarian.

She has been charged with conspiracy to commit murder. But the court is yet to take her plea.

Bumaye, who appeared in court without a lawyer, in an earlier interview, had denied beating the 90-year-old Akua Denteh.

On the day she was arrested, she told the police “I had no idea what I was doing. I don’t even remember beating my grandmother.”

She is convinced she was possessed by some spirits hence her not being in control of her actions.

Latifah Bumaye seen with a whip in her hand prior to the death of Akua Denteh

Bumaye, will be taken back to the Damango police station till August 20, 2020.

Latifah Bumaye was arrested last week at Kejewu Bator, a fishing community along the Volta lake.

The suspect was captured in a viral video repeatedly hitting the deceased 90-year-old with an object.

The deceased, Akua Denteh, a fortnight ago was tortured and killed after she was accused of witchcraft.

Five others persons have also been remanded in connection to the crime. The five are Haruna Aness, 34; Issifa Tanko, 35; Shaibu Muntala, 29; Sulemana Ali, 35 and Issifa Zakyibo, 32.

They have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder and have been remanded in police custody to reappear before the court.

The Savannah Regional Police Commander, DCOP Enoch Adutwum Bediako, said investigations are still ongoing into the gruesome murder of the frail 90-year-old.

Kafaba chief granted bail

The chief of Kafaba, Zackaria Yahaya who was earlier arrested has been granted bail.

According to the police, the five other suspects in their statements said the chief had no hand in the murder of Akua Denteh.

They said the chief had asked them to send the priestess out of the township when they introduced her to him before they beat the older woman to death.

“The youth did not agree with the chief and went on to do what they did and this unfortunate thing happened… All the five said the chief didn’t agree with what they were doing and therefore he was not part of what they were doing.

“Based on that, we have to grant the chief bail pending further investigations…He spent the night there because we got the suspects the following day,” DCOP Bediako said.