The National Security has begun mapping out routes to be used in the evacuation of Fulani herdsmen and their cattle from Agogo next Monday.

However, the bone of contention is where the nomads would finally settle with thousands of their animals.

While the traditional authorities say they have reserved land for the Fulanis, some residents insist that there is no way they will allow the Fulanis to operate on any land belonging to the people.

For now, the Fulani herdsmen are in a quandary — whether they should leave on Monday or refuse the order to vacate the area.

Mr Kingsley Obeng, the Public Relations Officer of the Agogo Residents Association, told reporters at Agogo yesterday that they were determined to get rid of the herdsmen once and for all.

Tension was mounting at Agogo ahead of the evacuation, when the Daily Graphic visited the community yesterday.

The tension was precipitated by the alleged shooting of two people by a Fulani herdsman last Monday afternoon, and a retaliatory act carried

out by some residents against a Fulani.

The two who were shot, identified as Suleman Salifu, 32, and Musa Amadu, 28, are on admission at the Agogo Presbyterian Hospital.

The Fulani man whose name was given as Iddrissu Amadu sustained head injuries and was also on admission at the same

hospital.

In the midst of the tension, the Agogo Traditional Council appealed to the protagonists not to do anything that would aggravate

the situation.

Mr Joseph Nti, the registrar of the traditional council, told the Daily Graphic that the traditional authorities were in support of the stand taken by the youth

on getting the Fulanis out of the area.

However, in doing so, some measure of restraint was needed in order not to disturb the peace of Agogo.

He also accused some of the farmers of leasing out their lands to the herdsmen only to turn round to blame the chiefs for the destruction of their farms.

For his part, the Agogo District Police Commander, Nana Ekow Yawson, expressed concern about the pronouncements of some politicians in the area, which, he said, were fuelling tension in the community.

Source:Graphic.com