A shocking incident unfolded in Cape Coast as a Pragya tricycle was set on fire, and its rider was beaten to death for his alleged participation in a theft. The incident has sparked concerns about vehicle identification and the increasing number of thefts in the area. This article delves into the details of the incident and the calls for action to address the underlying issues.
In the early hours of Monday, a Pragya tricycle was engulfed in flames and reduced to ashes at the Mfantsipim Round-about School gate. The rider of the tricycle suffered a tragic fate, being beaten to death by angry residents who accused him of being involved in a theft committed using the vehicle. The incident has sent shockwaves through the community and raised questions about security and crime prevention.
Read Also: NMSQ 23: Lawsec, Wasec, Queen of Peace and st. Francis Girl set to represent Upper West Region
Emmanuel Sam, the Secretary of the Pragya Riders Association in the Cape Coast Metropolis, expressed his concern about the incident. He called on the Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly to implement an identification number system for all registered Pragya vehicles in the metropolis. Such a system, he believes, would help identify unregistered vehicles and weed out disobedient riders from the roads. The incident has highlighted the need for better regulation and monitoring of tricycle transportation.
The incident was triggered by allegations that the deceased and two friends used the Pragya tricycle to steal fully loaded sacks of second-hand shoes from Esikafo Ambatem near the Mfantsipim School gate. Evans Owusu, the leader of the second-hand shoe dealers, shared accounts of frequent thefts in the area, with several sacks of shoes being stolen on a weekly basis.
The rampant stealing has caused tension among the group, leading them to suspect some of their own workers of involvement. The latest theft attempt led to their apprehension and subsequent beating by angry residents.
