By: Emmanuel Amoah
A land guard named Atinga Ayambire has been remanded by the Accra Circuit Court for allegedly assaulting a linguist and three others with an iron rod while they were developing land at Busuafie, near Danchira in Accra.
Ayambire, suspected to be a member of a group of land guards operating in Danchira, faces multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit a crime, prohibition of land guard activities, four counts of assault, and causing unlawful harm.
Despite denying the charges, Ayambire remains in custody as the investigation continues. His alleged accomplices, identified as Rasta, Tupac, Akuffo Addo, Nigga, and One Area, are still at large.
Chief Inspector Daniel Danku, the prosecutor, opposed the granting of bail, emphasizing the need to apprehend the other suspects who are on the run.
The court was informed that the complainant, Ayikwei Ofori, also known as Okyeame, serves as the linguist in Busuafie, near Danchira. Ayambire and his accomplices, who are notorious land guards in the area, reportedly confronted the complainant and others over the development of land sold by Ofori to George Darku.
On June 7, 2023, at approximately 10:30 AM, the complainant, Nathaniel Ayikwei, along with George Darko and Samuel Kofi Siaw, went to work on the land. During the process, Ayambire and his accomplices arrived on motorcycles, demanding a “digging fee” from the workers.
When Ayikwei informed them that the fee had already been paid to the Asafotse (traditional leader) of the area, Ayambire allegedly became enraged and, without provocation, assaulted Ayikwei, Siaw, and Darko with iron rods, causing injuries.
The victims sought refuge at Ayikwei’s house, but another individual, Odekor Lamptey, was also reportedly assaulted when he intervened.
The complainants reported the incident to the Danchira police and were given medical forms for treatment. Ayambire and his accomplices initially went into hiding, but Ayambire was later spotted by the complainant at the Gbese District Court, where he was subsequently arrested.
Ayambire is scheduled to reappear in court on September 9, 2024.
