A suspected serial killer, Joseph Ankomah, popularly known as “Uncle J,” was allegedly lynched and set ablaze 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 disappearance and subsequent murder of 22-year-old mobile money vendor Diana Asante, who went missing on December 17, 2024.
After an extensive search, Diana’s lifeless body was discovered three days later in a small tunnel near the town hall shed, wrapped in a bedspread. The youth linked the bedspread to Joseph Ankomah, a local mortician and food vendor, and stormed his residence.
A search of the premises allegedly uncovered bloodstains and blood-soaked clothes. Under intense pressure, Joseph reportedly confessed to the murder and admitted responsibility for several other killings. He claimed to have killed four people that year and alleged that two prominent individuals in the district had hired him for ritual killings.
Before police could intervene, the mob attacked Joseph, beating him severely before setting him on fire, resulting in his immediate death. The police later retrieved his charred remains and sent them to the mortuary.
Chief Superintendent William Gyamfi, the Mpohor District Police Commander, confirmed the incident but declined to provide further details. The police have launched a probe into both the lynching and the allegations of ritual killings, urging calm and cooperation from the community.
