A 35-YEAR-OLD man, Mr Ajusikum Anorm, did not only lose four guinea fowls, but his life as well when the suspected thief allegedly suffocated him on a rice farm.

According to Inspector Ali Seidu of the Sandema Police Station, Kwabena Akandewen, 48, who was released from prison barely two months ago, allegedly stole the four guinea fowls from Siniensi in the Builsa District of the Upper East Region, and sold them at the Sandema Market.

He said when Mr Anorm was told by some neighbours that they saw Akandewen with the birds at the market, he decided to chase him to retrieve his guinea fowls.

However, Mr Anorm met Akandewen, who had already sold the birds, returning from the market.

According to Inspector Seidu, Mr Anorm confronted Akandewen and in the process a struggled ensued between them.

He said the struggle took the two to a flooded rice field where the ex-convict held the head of Mr Anorm who was blind in one eye and suffocated him.

He said one Mr Aponyin Akanbang,who was in a nearby farm, heard the wailing of women and children who apparently saw Akandewen suffocating Mr Anorm and armed with a cutlass, he rushed to the scene to save Mr Anorm.

Inspector Seidu said when Akandewen saw Mr Akanbang approaching with the cutlass, he released Mr Anorm and fled through some tall grass in the rice field.

Mr Akanbang and two other farmers gave Akandewen a hot chase but he went into a thicket and escaped.

The three farmers then rushed to the field to attend to Mr Anorm but he was already dead.

They accordingly reported the case to the police.

Inspector Seidu said while the police and some medical staff of the Sandema Hospital were at the scene to retrieve the body of Mr Anorm, they had information that Akandewen was seen walking to Wiaga, near Sandema, for medical attention.

When the suspect was brought to Sandema after his arrest, a large crowd had gathered at the police station and called for his release so that instant justice could be meted out to him.

The body of Anorm, who is survived by two wives and eight children, has been buried while investigations continue.