Five bodyguards hired by the Bomaahene, Nana Barima Akoto Kuaffo I, to protect him against his subjects who were agitating for his destoolment have been beaten mercilessly and wounded by his people, leading to the five being hospitalised at the Brong Ahafo Regional Hospital in Sunyani.

The five—Asare Gad, 31, Iddrisu Abass, 31, Ernest Akotse, 26, Kwesi Twum, 24, and Sadick Mohammed sustained various degrees of injuries and were rushed to the B/A Regional Hospital for treatment.

They are however under police guard at the hospital pending further investigations by the police.

According to police sources, about two weeks ago, the people of Bomaa, a cocoa growing area in the Tano North District of the Brong Ahafo Region, demanded the destoolment of their chief because they claimed he was a hindrance to the development of the town.

But they were prevailed upon to settle their grievances amicably. As a result, in order to protect himself against his people, the chief hired seven macho men from Bechem and Duayaw Nkwanta and armed them with two short guns and cutlasses to guard his palace against intruders.

This did not go down well with his people so they mobilised and rushed on the macho men at the palace.

The macho men, sensing danger, started firing indiscriminately into the crowd, forcing the people to retreat. Fortunately, the bullets did not hit anyone.

But realising that the macho men had run out of bullets, the people rushed on them with cutlasses, sticks and stones and beat them mercilessly, with Mohammed falling unconscious as a result. Two of them however managed to run away.

The timely arrival of the police saved the lives of the other five, according to the B/A Regional Public Relations Officer, ASP Christopher Tawiah.

Two shotguns one single barrel and a double barrel—four empty pop marks cartridges, cutlasses and one live bullet were retrieved from them by the police. The chief, Nana Barima Akoto Kuaffo I, has also been invited by the police for questioning.

Meanwhile, police officers have been detailed to the town to protect lives and property. According to ASP Tawiah, though there was no tension in the town as at yesterday morning, police officers had been stationed in the town to prevent any clashes between supporters of the chief and his accusers.