BEES EXPOSE FIRE PERSONNEL’S VULNERABILITY

Residents of Government bungalows at Zaare,, closed o the Bolgatanaga
Regional Hospital, kept themselves locked, in their rooms for hours to
avoid being attacked by Bees who had besieged the area, on Sunday June
13, 2010.
The agitated Bees took over the vicinity after attacking a woman in
her 50s, for close to 20 minutes.
An eyewitness who narrated the incident to the Daily Guide, said the
woman had come to the vicinity to visit her daughter, who lives in one
of the bungalows, close to the catering rest house. According to him,
as the woman got the front yard and was about reaching the door step
of the living area, a troop of agitated Bees flew in her direction,
all of a sudden and started stinging her all over her body.
As she screamed and resisted the attack, her actions attracted more
bees and kept passers-bye at bay, while some residents looked on, and
even though they expressed concern, they could not get close, because
of fear of being attacked, and therefore left the woman to her fate.
The cause is not known.
“Close to about 20 minutes, the woman was under the attack of the
Bees, while she kept screaming and calling for assistance. Some
residents managed to drive through the Bees to the Fire Service
office, to come and spray the Bees off. The Fire Service office, is
about one and half kilometers from the scene. Masa, according to the
residents, they were surprised when the fire personnel there,
expressed fear of possible attack by the Bees, because they don’t have
protective gears for such action. Later they gathered courage and came
to save the woman. The Eyewitness added.
Most of the bungalows in that area and other in the municipality are
infested with Bees and from to time to time, with a little noise,
slight shacking of the location of their hive or any strong scent of
perfume or fragrance, they got agitated and take over these area for
hours.
The woman, at the time of filing this report was doing well at the
Bolgatanga Regional Hospital, where she was rushed to, for treatment.
But fresh swellings as a result of the Bee stings, kept appearing.
Not quite long ago, when people placed so much trust on superstition,
this woman’s attack would have been attributed to witch craft. She
would have been pronounced guilty of witchcraft, and the attack by the
Bees, would be described as a divine intervention to prevent her from
attacking her daughter and her family. Or it would have been described
as an attack by some witched on her, depending on her social status.
So if Fire Service, who have been doing lots of combat, are not
protected to fight in this situation, what will the Agric and
Veterinary Officers, do when incidents of this nature happen in any
community.
Meanwhile a Bee Keeper, Michael Awindowgu, said Bees attacks are
always possible depending on the circumstance.
“Bees are very gentle and very useful insects to society. They do not
harm except frightened. Most often, when they are frightened, they
like to fly away for safety and will only sting when it has no choice
and has to defend itself, family or hive.” Mr. Awindowgu added.
Sweet scented flowers and perfumes and pomade attract Bees, so you
must be mindful of where you go, when you use any of these.
END