Ibrahim Mohammed, aka Kaaka
The three-member committee which probed the mayhem in Ejura in the Ejura/Sekyedumase District of the Ashanti Region on June 29, leading to the killing of two people and injuries to four others, as a result of the death of Ibrahim Mohammed aka Kaaka, has revealed that evidence adduced is pointing to a family feud and not social media-related activities of the deceased, as portrayed.
The committee has recommended adequate compensation for the families of Abdul Nasir Yusif and Murtala Suraj Mohammed, who died in the melee, while Louis Ayikpa, 20; Awal Misbau, 16; and Nasif Nuhu, 30; were injured.
It however, did not appear to make any recommendations of compensation for Kaaka’s family because their findings are pointing to family feud and not his social media-related activities as initially hit the media.
The committee said, “Our findings show that, the death of Mohammed Ibrahim aka ‘Kaaka’ and the mishandling of same, was the trigger point for the riots that followed.”
Reasonable Probability
The committee, chaired by Justice George Kingsley Koomson of the Court of Appeal, said after careful examination of the evidence relating to the events preceding the death of ‘Kaaka’, it was convinced that the evidence as testified to by Sadia Fuseini, a co-tenant of Kaaka, is “more reasonably probable.”
It described evidence of another witness, Abeewakas, who claimed to be a cousin of Kaaka and Sahada Hudu, wife of Kaaka, as “more speculative” and “unsubstantiated,” adding, “We, accordingly find that, the death of Kaaka was not directly linked to his social media activism.”
“It is more probably a family feud. This is also supported by the testimony of Aminu Mohammed, a resident of Ejura and a friend of the late Kaaka,” the report explained.
Maximum Force
The committee said its findings also showed that the death of Kaaka and the mishandling of the same was the trigger point for the riots that followed, and pointed out that “the maximum application of force worsened the situation.”
Case Profile
On June 28, 2021, at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, Kaaka died on admission allegedly from injuries on his occipital region inflicted during the attack in his house at Ejura, two days earlier on June 26, 2021.
His death sparked mayhem on June 29, leading to the killing of two people and injuries to four others, by security agents and the three-member committee that probed the violence recommended adequate compensation for the families of the victims.
Three people including his own brother called Iddi, were arraigned before a Circuit Court in Kumasi for their alleged involvement in the crime and the case is pending.
According to evidence gathered by the committee, Kaaka was returning home on June 26, 2021 around 01:30 hours on his motorbike when he was attacked by some unknown assailant(s) and beaten into unconsciousness.
Kaaka was rushed to the Ejura Government Hospital and was subsequently referred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), where he was admitted for treatment. He died on June 28, 2021 at 01:40 hours.
Detailed Analysis
According to the committee’s report, Aminu Mohammed testified in camera as a good friend of Kaaka and a resident of Ejura. He testified that he had known Kaaka since 1996 and that he used to live in Kaakas’ room for years. He gave his own year of birth as 1975.
“Aminu testified that, before his death, ‘Kaaka’, was always complaining about his elder brother who he alleged hated him so much such that, he always quarreled with him. He stated that ‘Kaaka’ was a fashion designer and a mobile phone repairer who also operated a game centre which made him stay out late most nights. He also said that ‘Kaaka’, who always returns home very late after work, sometimes as late as 1:00 am, always had to look carefully around and hide so that his brother would not see him coming home. He said ‘Kaaka’s’ big brother is called Iddi (a.k.a Akwalan). He explained that, the said Iddi was always accusing their mother of loving ‘Kaaka’ more than him and so Iddi was always looking to harm ‘Kaaka’. He also said ‘Kaaka’s’ mother had confessed on several occasions that, it was because the elder brother was not leading a good life and that was why she loved ‘Kaaka’ more.”
The report also said, “Aminu testified that he is aware that sometime in 2020, ‘Kaaka’ caused the arrest of Iddi, but since he was not present at the time of the arrest, he cannot tell exactly what offence Iddi was arrested for. However, he knows that Iddi was kept for about three days in the Ejura Police cells in 2020. He stated that during this time, Iddi pleaded with ‘Kaaka’ to drop the charges so he could be released, claiming he had learnt his lesson. He, Aminu, however advised ‘Kaaka’ to leave Iddi in the cells for about a week to teach him a proper lesson. However, due to pressure from their mother, and her paying ‘something’ to the police, Iddi was released on the third day much to his regret. He said Iddi travelled to Nigeria soon after his release.”
Not Present
He told the committee that he, Aminu, was not in Ghana at the time of the death of ‘Kaaka’. He said he left Ejura on the 20th day of Ramadan, which is sometime in May, 2021 to Burkina Faso, but he called his family and friends as he usually does and was informed that Iddi had returned to Ejura. He said at another time he called only to be greeted by the shocking news of ‘Kaaka’s’ death. He said the person who told him the news also added that a co-tenant of ‘Kaaka’ had stated that she saw Iddi kill ‘Kaaka’ and he believes that story, stating that Iddi is a drug addict.
Sadia Fuseini
The report said Sadia Fuseini testified as a resident of Ejura, a farmer and the wife of Fuseini Ibrahim, adding “She said they are both co-tenants with the ‘Kaaka’ family. She confirmed that she was in Ejura on the 26th June, 2021 when ‘Kaaka’ was harmed.”
“She narrated that on the night of 26th June, 2021, she was in her room performing ablution when she heard the sound of ‘Kaaka’s’ motorbike entering the house. “Suddenly, she heard a loud thump and she thought it was the sound of the motorbike falling down. She said that, she therefore, stopped what she was doing to listen.
“Not long after, she heard the sound of groaning and she went out to see what was happening. She said it was at this point that she saw ‘Kaaka’s’ brother, Iddi, holding ‘Kaaka’s’ hands and dragging him towards the common bathroom. She explained that initially, there was light and she could see everything, but suddenly the light went off just as she started to frantically call out and knock at Sahada’s (‘Kaaka’s’ wife) door. When she stopped knocking the door, she turned to see Iddi leaving the scene.”
Co-Tenant
“Meanwhile, another co-tenant, who is also her friend had come out because of the commotion and stated that, she had bumped into Iddi as he went out. She believes that, the co-tenant must have heard her and came out as she was shouting and calling for Sahada. She explained further that, because Iddi was a brother to ‘Kaaka’, she was afraid to mention that to any of the relatives and was just praying that ‘Kaaka’ would recover and tell his own story but unfortunately, he died.”
“She further explained that, when she called Sahada, she woke up as well as ‘Kaaka’s’ mother and another brother. She said a teacher in the house and his wife also came out and that Sahada even brought a torchlight which they flashed towards the bathroom where Sahada saw her husband lying on the floor. She said that they put ‘Kaaka’ on the motorbike of the teacher and rushed him to the hospital.”
Bad Blood
The report said, “She also confirmed her husband’s story that, there was no bad blood between them and the ‘Kaaka’ family prior to the incident. However, after this issue, she said, there has been bad blood between them and the ‘Kaaka’ family.”
“She further stated that, she and her husband had lived in the same house as the ‘Kaaka’ family for about 18 years. She finally explained that she had been afraid to tell the story initially because her husband was not in town and as a woman, she was afraid to tell the truth to avoid Baba Iddi turning his anger on her.”
Muniratu Alhassan
“Muniratu Alhassan testified as a resident of Ejura, a co-tenant of Ibrahim and Sadia Fuseini as well as the ‘Kaaka’ family. She said she was in Ejura on the 26th of June, 2021, when ‘Kaaka’ was injured. She narrated that on that Friday night, she heard the sound of ‘Kaaka’s’ motorbike coming towards the house. She stated that the door to her room is outward facing. After the motorbike arrived, she heard an unusual sound. She came to her porch to see what was happening. Then she heard Sadia calling Sahada and banging on her door and asking her to come out.
The report said that “as she was making her way to the scene she bumped into Baba Iddi, who was leaving the house. She then shouted that somebody had caused injury and that person is running out so people should come and see him. She stated that whilst she was shouting, she heard Sadia asking Sahada to bring a torchlight which she did and they all saw ‘Kaaka’ lying there.”
It added that, “She said there is a teacher in the house who used his motorbike to convey ‘Kaaka’ to the hospital. Before the incident, she said she had no trouble or issue with the ‘Kaaka’ family. She also stated that she had lived in the same house with the ‘Kaaka’ family for twenty (20) years. She confirmed that she saw ‘Kaaka’ injured and lying down on the floor.”
The report also said, “She confirmed that she had given a statement to the police about the incident. She explained that she lived in the house with her husband and further explained there was now bad blood between her and the ‘Kaaka’ family, after she lodged a complaint to the police.”
By Ernest Kofi Adu