A chilling tale of fratricide unfolded in Duwie, a community nestled within the Sissala West District of Ghana, where 18-year-old Pati Bande stands accused of the gruesome murder of his 14-year-old brother, Haruna Rashid. The Wa Circuit Court, presided over by His Worship Maxwell Maxibrain Titriku, has remanded Bande into police custody pending further investigation, with a scheduled return date of January 24, 2025. The details of the case, as presented by Detective Sergeant Appiah Samuel, paint a horrific picture of violence and brutality.
The tragic events came to light on January 7, 2025, when the boys’ father, Haruna Bande, a 50-year-old herdsman, reported Rashid’s disappearance to the Gwollu District Police Command. According to the presented facts, Pati not only killed his younger brother but also engaged in acts of mutilation, severing Rashid’s head, penis, and heart. He then concealed the dismembered body parts, burying the torso in a sack within a secluded bush area while interring the head, heart, and penis separately near the family’s cattle ranch at their Duwie residence.
Following the report, the community swiftly mobilized, apprehending Pati and detaining him at the Duwie Chief Palace before notifying the police. A team comprising law enforcement, a Physician Assistant from Gwollu Hospital (Mr. Munkailo Waah), and an Environmental Officer (Mr. Alhassan Abdul Razak) promptly arrived at the palace. Guided by Pati, his father, and community leaders, the team located the burial site in a nearby bush valley, confirming the grim discovery of Rashid’s remains in a sack, clearly missing the aforementioned body parts.
Further inquiries led the team, again guided by Pati, to the family’s cattle ranch, approximately a kilometer from the initial burial site. Here, the missing head, heart, and penis were unearthed, further solidifying the accusations against Pati. A preliminary examination conducted by Mr. Waah, the Physician Assistant, verbally attributed the cause of death to decapitation.
In his caution statement, Pati confessed to the murder, admitting to killing Rashid at the cattle ranch upon their return from herding cattle around 5:00 am. However, he offered no explanation for his heinous actions, leaving a chilling void in the narrative and a community grappling with the incomprehensible act committed by one of its own. This silence adds a layer of complexity to an already tragic situation, prompting further investigation to uncover the motives behind such a brutal act of violence within a family.
The court proceedings and ongoing investigation aim to unravel the circumstances surrounding this devastating incident. The community of Duwie, along with the grieving father, awaits answers and justice for young Haruna Rashid. The case highlights the devastating consequences of unchecked violence and the urgent need for understanding the underlying factors that can lead to such horrific acts within families and communities. The lack of a clear motive adds to the profound sense of tragedy and underscores the importance of thorough investigation to bring closure and accountability to this heartbreaking case. The court’s decision to remand Pati Bande allows for a comprehensive investigation to be conducted, providing an opportunity to gather more evidence and understand the full scope of this tragedy. The January 24, 2025 court date will mark a significant step in the pursuit of justice for Haruna Rashid.
