A 45-year-old farmer, Azumah Zakari, has been shot and killed in a suspected land dispute at Nyanoa, a farming community in the Upper West Akyem District of the Eastern Region.

The tragic incident occurred on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at around 2:00 p.m., when the deceased visited his orange farm.

According to his wife, Madam Adwoa Augustina, Azumah had intended to assess the farm ahead of cutting down some trees to improve yield.

Narrating the incident, Madam Augustina explained that upon reaching the farm, her husband encountered two armed men — identified by locals as Kobby Asaa and Red — who were already cutting down the orange trees.

The gunmen reportedly informed Zakari that the land had been sold to a different person for the cultivation of garden eggs.

Her husband, she said, responded calmly, stating that if the land had been sold, he would return later to collect the felled orange trees for firewood.

As he attempted to return home, he was allegedly shot from behind in the left leg, causing heavy bleeding.

Due to a lack of immediate transportation, Zakari reportedly bled for several hours, and despite efforts by community members, he succumbed to his injuries before reaching medical help.

The body was later transported to the Asamankese Government Hospital, where he was confirmed dead and subsequently deposited at the morgue.

The incident has sparked outrage in the community, with some local youth alleging that the Chief of Nyanoa, Osabarima Opoku Okyere II, may be complicit.

They claim the suspects — described as notorious land guards — have been working under the chief's directive in what they describe as the indiscriminate sale of community lands.

Currently, Kobby Asaa and Red are said to be on the run.

The matter has been reported to the Nyanoa and Asamankese Police for further investigation and necessary action.

Residents are calling for justice and urging law enforcement authorities to swiftly apprehend the suspects and investigate the alleged involvement of traditional authorities in the ongoing land disputes.