After nearly six months of a relentless search, traditional warriors of Wungu in the North East Region have tracked down about six suspects behind the killing of an elephant in May this year. 

The suspects' identity is yet to be made known to the public, and they have not also been handed over to the security for prosecution. 

The warriors had also found and retrieved the pair of tusks that went missing after the animal's death, prompting the search ordered by the paramount chief. 

The tusks were given back to officials of the Wildlife Division at a short ceremony at the chief Palace in Wungu, witnessed by the municipal police commander and some of his men. 

The chief had ordered the search after the Wildlife Division came to him complaining about the illegal killing of the young bull elephant and stealing of its carcass, including the tusks, by some residents of Mishio in his traditional area. 

The chief then pleaded with the officials to handle the matter and vowed to retrieve the tusks. 

During the handover, the chief said he invited the officials to his palace to fulfil a pledge he made to them some months ago.  He started by giving some details into the search.

"They (suspects) fled with the tusks to Gonjaland, but the warriors went after them and retrieved it from them. I insisted and told them they had been warned not to harm the animal in the first place, so I can't allow them to keep the tusks because it has become a government matter", the paramount chief told the officials. 

The paramount chief said the search had caused a lot of tension as some community members accused him of witch-hunting his subjects instead of protecting them. 

"It wasn't easy, and we had to fight. I told them to return them".

The elephant was killed while traversing the Mole Game Reserve crossing routes in the West Mamprusi municipality near the communities of Mishio, Yama and Prima.

Presenting the tusks, the chief warned the residents to desist from attacking and killing strayed wildlife species.

"I have already told them that times have changed, so when they see these animals, they don't have to attack and kill them, but they should report to me, and I will find a way to bring those responsible for handling them".

"So with what has happened, I believe this will never repeat because they know I'm doing that to protect them".

The Municipal Police Commander, DSP. Cosmos Awe was grateful to the chief for asserting his authority and fulfilling his promise. But, unfortunately, although he was a little disappointed, the suspects were not identified and handed to him.

"When we tried to move in, the chief gave some assurance. And today, I'm delighted because he has actually delivered. And so grateful to the chief for also not failing me and the people, though the perpetrators are not caught".

The Commander called for a collaboration with the Wildlife Division and traditional authorities to intensify conservation education. 

"What we need together with chiefs is to partner very well and do sensitization of the people because I don't think it is all the people who know about these laws".

"It is our duty to let them understand the need to protect these animals", he said.

"Now that we know that some people are still in the dark and will be committing similar offences, we need to work together and sensitize them through community engagement so that we don't encounter this type of killings within our jurisdiction".

The North East Region, part of the Red Volta elephant range, has recently witnessed a rise in human-elephant conflict. 

Three elephants and a man have been killed this year alone in two conflicts.  

The other conflict occurred in East Mamprusi, where two elephants were killed and one injured after a man was gored to death around Gbintri. 

The Regional Manager of the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission, Joseph Binlinla, was excited that the tusks had been retrieved and reverted to the state. 

"We have to retrieve the tusks because it is state property and the laws of this country forbid anybody to have elephant tusks, and so appropriately, we've gotten it". 

Joseph agreed with the police commander to collaborate and intensify conservation education. He, however, bemoaned that wild animals across the country were being killed with impunity. 

"It's not only elephants, all the other wild animals, but people are also hunting them with impunity, and this is what we have to fight against.

"So we are going to pursue more conservation education, we are going to get community involvement, create volunteerism, and we support all and sundry".

He added that "we have observed that most of the elephants within the Eastern Wildlife corridor in the Upper East Region now migrate to the nearby North-East Region". 

"All these we have taken on board, and we are going to ensure that we intensify conservation education and then also  partnering with the traditional authorities to ensure that we achieve conservation objectives in this country."