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A forest guard stationed at Abofour in the Ashanti region was allegedly shot dead in the forest by unknown assailants before Easter. Identified as Kwadwo Wireko, 56, the guard was found in a pool of blood in the Abofour Forest Reserve in the Kwapanim Forest Range near Offinso. His body has been deposited at the morgue of the Saint Patrick�s Hospital at Offinso pending autopsy. Briefing the Daily Graphic, the Akomadan District Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Thilbert Zubaviel said Wireko went on patrol alone about 10am on Wednesday March 27, 2013 but never returned. Having waited in vain for Wireko�s return, his colleague forest guards � Francis Brobbey and Leticia Asante � went to look for him in the forest. According to DSP Zubaviel, the two found the dead body of Wireko in the forest and reported the incident to the Abofour police. A police-military patrol team dispatched to the scene found Wireko lying in a pool of blood with ants all over his body. DSP Zubaviel said initial checks on the body of Wireko showed that the guard had been shot in the chest from close range. He said the motorbike on which Wireko rode to forest with registration number M-13-AS 716 had still not been found. The Offinso Forest District Manager, Mr Ernest Nkansah Kwarteng expressed grief and deep condolences with the bereaved family. He gave the assurance that his office would co-operate with the police to bring the assailants to book.