Aboso: Thieves allegedly drug goats with tramadol before stealing them

The incidents have left livestock farmers counting their losses, as the perpetrators reportedly operate under the cover of darkness.

According to reports, the suspected thieves mix tramadol or sleeping tablets with food or fish and feed them to the goats. The animals allegedly become weak within minutes, making them less likely to resist or alert their owners before they are slaughtered.

Kojo Bonsu, a resident of Aboso and a goat farmer, told the media that he had lost almost his entire herd of 70 goats to the suspected thieves, with only two remaining.

He said the zonal council chairman and several other residents had also suffered similar losses.

Mr Bonsu suspects that some of the stolen goats may be supplied to chinchinga (kebab) vendors amid rising demand for goat meat. However, he provided no evidence to establish a link between the vendors and the alleged thefts.

He also expressed concern that continued losses could drive frustrated residents to seek spiritual intervention through their traditional deities, warning that the situation could have serious consequences for the community.

According to him, the affected farmers have yet to formally report the incidents to the police, partly because they have not had the opportunity to do so.

He warned that if the thefts persist, residents may be compelled to take a collective decision that could have far-reaching consequences for the community.

The incidents have heightened anxiety among residents, who are calling for urgent intervention to protect their livestock, investigate the alleged thefts, identify and apprehend those responsible, and restore a sense of security in Aboso.