The Ashanti Regional Police Command has expressed serious concern about the sudden rise of gansterism in Kumasi which was hitherto not known in the City.

All these while no arrests have been made.

According to the Command their investigations have revealed that 2 opposing factions of gangsters based at Ash-Town and Bantama which specialises in the use of various kinds of machetes and other offensive implements which they use to butcher one another anytime they clash.

This has been plaguing the city since 2004, when a similar group from Asawasi and Zongo clashed for inexplicable reasons leaving behind a number of casualties.

One person had his fingers chopped off while another from Zongo had his right wrist also severed off.

This was disclosed at a media briefing by the Command and addressed by the Acting Regional Police Commander, ACP Seth Oteng in Kumasi.

Addressing the media ACP Oteng noted that on the 24th November, 2007, at about 10:30pm, a gangster group from Bantama led by Kwame Appiah and made up of Kwadwo Poku, Dauda, Marcus, Moses, Gyempeh and Agyankugya proceeded to South Suntreso where they butchered to death a 26year old Jordan Osei Yaw.

He said in their rush to get the dastardly and horrible act done, Kwadwo Poku known as Kutany or Vandyme had a deep cutlass wound on the left wrist.

Meanwhile, the Police have so far questioned four (4) people including the father and stepmother of Kwadwo Poku, in connection with the incident.

The Police said it is quiet clear that the deceased had earlier, on two occasions been hinted of the plot which he took rather lightly.

Furthermore, a vehicle with registration number, GR 3574 G belonging to the suspect Kwadwo Poku which was used in the operation has been impounded with blood stains all over the seat, the steering wheel and dashboard.

According to the Police, they continue to receive information that the other faction from Ash-Town whose man was butchered is massing up and preparing for reprisal attacks and particularly targetting the home of Mr. Richard Adjei Mensah the father of Kwadwo Poku.

ACP Oteng asked them to exercise restraint and assist the Police to apprehend those criminals and that any further acts of gangsterism will be severely dealt with.

The Police has therefore called on the public to endeavour to assist them with information that will lead to the arrest of the gangsters since they are all at large.