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TWO MEN belonging to two different gangs were gruesomely murdered between last Friday and Saturday at Sokoban-Krofofrom, a community in the Atwima Kwanwoma District of the Ashanti Region. The deceased persons were Kofi Asiama alias Etuoaboba, 28, a driver and second-hand clothes dealer and Emmanuel Akugri, 21, a resident of Aboabo Kese near Ampabame Number One. While Emmanuel�s gang reportedly attacked and killed Asiama on Friday June 17 at about 10:30am, Asiama�s group also retaliated on Saturday night at about 11:30pm, butchering Akugri to death. While Asiama was hacked with sharp machetes, showing deep cuts on his neck, right hand, face and other parts of his body, Akugri was stoned with cement blocks and clubs with nails, killing him on the spot. Ten suspects, with a female accomplice identified as Shetu who had since been arrested by the police, were said to have committed the dastardly act. Suspects who allegedly took part in the killing of Asiama were Isaac Ofori alias Akoko Lorenzo (an ex-convict), a native of Nkawie Achiase, Kwabena Frank, Akwasi Sarpong aka Agya, Debrah, Paa Ketewa, Adumata, Mike and Clement. They are currently on the run and the police are pursuing them to face the full rigours of the law. Narrating the circumstance under which the first bloody attack was enacted, eyewitnesses indicated that Asiama was at his friend�s workshop when suddenly he was surrounded by the suspects who were fully armed with machetes and two locally-made pistols. Without any provocation, one of the suspects rushed on him and stabbed him in both ribs before slashing his neck. They observed that as the deceased fell down, one of the suspects who showed no mercy, chopped off the right arm of the deceased with a sharp machete. According to eyewitnesses, they looked on helplessly as the irate hoodlums, brandishing the dangerous weapons, inflicted deep machete wounds on the deceased. Before killing Asiama, the suspects reportedly threatened to kill anyone who would attempt to intervene on behalf of the victim. One Kwadwo Kwakye, who attempted to rescue the deceased, was cut on the head and left cheek. DAILY GUIDE learnt that one of the suspects who could not be readily identified, licked the blood on the machete before leaving the scene. The deceased was rushed to the Asafo Agyei Hospital at Ahodwo where he was referred to the Emergency Unit of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, considering the degree of the wounds. But Asiama died on the way to KATH and his lifeless body had since been deposited at the KATH�s Morgue for autopsy. According to reports, a majority of the suspects who were residents of Ampabame Number One, were known in the community as drug dealers and thieves who had on several occasions robbed people. A man who pleaded anonymity said a month ago, a member of the gang was severely beaten by the deceased�s friend. Consequently, members of the blood-thirsty gang swore to revenge by killing the deceased or any of his gang members. When Daily Guide spoke to the deceased�s mother, Ama Boakye alias Auntie Marie, she disclosed that four of the suspects, namely Isaac Ofori, Akwasi Sarpong, Kwabena Frank and Shetu ,were seen at her house on Thursday night, with Isaac Ofori holding a machete, but it never occurred to her that they were after her son. She said they had threatened her son on several occasions, compelling him to leave the town for about two months. When asked if she ever reported the alleged threats on the life of her son to the police, she answered in the negative. Meanwhile, Daily Guide has gathered that Akugri was attacked when his opponents got wind of his intention to sneak out of town to an undisclosed location after participating in the killing of Asiama. According to reports, based on the information, Asiama�s opponents trailed him and on reaching the very spot where he was callously murdered, he was clubbed to death with cement blocks and sticks. After killing him, the suspects fled the scene, leaving behind Akugri�s lifeless body and his traveling bag containing his personal belongings. The assembly member for the area, Bismark Addai Dwomoh, told Daily Guide that he rushed to the scene after receiving a distress call but there was nothing he could do to save the victim as the thugs had surrounded him. The bodies of the deceased have since been deposited at the KATH morgue for autopsy.