Police arrest 63 suspects over lynching of woman suspected of witchcraft

Police in the Upper East Region have arrested 63 people suspected to be linked to the lynching of a 67-year-old woman accused of being a witch in a swoop on Saturday.

Bolgatanga Municipal Police Commander, Superintendent Samuel Punobyin says the swoop was conducted based on intelligence gathered.

He told Accra-based Citi FM: ”We conducted a swoop in Pelungu market where the deceased was lynched and the surrounding houses and have arrested 63 male suspects including a lady who are being held for investigations.

"We conducted this swoop based on intelligence because we were told the lynching of the deceased was done by people living in the area.”

He continued: "So the suspects will be screened on Sunday morning and so we are hoping that the witnesses who were also at the chief’s palace before the killing of the deceased will identify those who brought the deceased to the palace, those who demanded she should be released to them; and those who lynched the deceased for prosecution. But for suspects who will not be fingered by the witnesses will be released on bail."

Last Tuesday, three suspects were picked by the police for investigations, the police disclosed.

They were picked up after they tried to stop a witness from giving information about the killing.