A suspected serial killer, Joseph Ankomah, popularly known as “Uncle J,” was allegedly lynched and burnt by an enraged mob in Adum-Dominase, a small farming community in the Mpohor Fiase District.
The incident occurred on Thursday, December 19, 2024, following allegations of ritual murders.
The mob’s actions were reportedly triggered by the murder of Diana Asante, a 22-year-old mobile money vendor who went missing on December 17, 2024. After an extensive search by community members, Diana’s lifeless body was discovered three days later in a small tunnel near the town hall shed. The body was wrapped in a bedspread.
Upon identifying the bedspread, the youth traced it to Joseph Ankomah, a known mortician and food vendor in the area. They stormed his residence, conducted a search, and reportedly found bloodstains and blood-soaked clothes on the premises.
Infuriated by the evidence, the mob began assaulting Joseph, who, under duress, confessed to the crime and admitted to several other murders that had gone unnoticed.
He claimed responsibility for killing four people that year and alleged that two prominent individuals in the district had contracted him to kill.
According to Joseph, these individuals sought blood and vital organs for ritual purposes in exchange for money.
Before the police could intervene, the mob set Joseph on fire, killing him instantly. His remains were later retrieved by the police and sent to the mortuary.
Chief Superintendent William Gyamfi, the Mpohor District Police Commander, confirmed the incident to Citi News. However, he declined to provide further details regarding arrests or the ongoing investigation.
The police have since launched an investigation into the lynching and the allegations of ritual killings.
