Andanis blamed for triggering 2002 conflict

Accra, Oct. 20, GNA - Police Detective Inspector Charles Adaba, a member of the police investigative team, which investigated the Yendi crisis in 2002 has collaborated the Wuako Commission Enquiry reports that it was the Andanis who triggered the problem. Inspector Adaba said on Wednesday that police investigations revealed that it was one Andani who was carrying a locally manufactured gun who shot an Abudu- Abudulai Issahaku aka "Who born you" that sparked the communal violence.

He said this action led to counter reprisals from the Abudus who also assaulted one Andani; Ziblim Abudulai, when he was sent on an errand by the late Ya-Na.

Inspector Adaba was speaking during cross-examination by Mr Philip Addison, Lead Counsel for the 15 accused persons who are standing trial for their involvement in the murder of Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II. He said 10 out of the 30 people who died in the communal violence were not from Yendi.

Inspector Adaba said police investigations revealed that most of the fighters were brought from villages around Yendi and Tamale to fight on behalf of the Ya-Na.

Inspector Adaba who read extensively from the Police Special Investigative Report said the document revealed that the Ya-Na prepared for the conflict because he was training his warriors. He however said one Bashiru Giwa, a deserter from the Ghana Armed Forces who allegedly trained the warriors denied the action when he appeared before the Wuako Commission.

Inspector Adaba said apart from two persons who were rescued by the military and all the persons who escaped from the Gbewaa Palace during the conflict were warriors of the late Ya-Na. He named some of the warriors as Mohammed Achana Abdulsalam, aka Red, Abukari Amadu, Imrana Saibu, Mohammed Mutawakil, Ziblim Fuseini and Nantona Alhassan Andani. He said from the police investigations on the March 24, 2002 a curfew was imposed on Yendi and the annual Bugum (Fire) festival was cancelled. He said later that day Prince Imoro Andani, the then Northern Regional Minister visited Yendi and lifted the curfew. He said while the Abudus rejected the lifting of the curfew the Andanis welcomed it.

When asked why the military did not intervene in the situation to bring it under control, Inspector Adaba said the number of the personnel on the ground was about 11 to 14 men and would have been very difficult for them confront about 150 armed men in and around the Palace.

When asked why the Ghana Police Service, did not go to the rescue of the Ya-Na, he said the police did not have protective dress and could not tell where the firing was coming from. Fifteen persons are on trial for their alleged involvement in the assassination of Ya-Na Andani and 30 others in March 2002. They have all pleaded not guilty to the charges of conspiracy to murder and murder.

The accused persons are; Mohammed Habib Tijani, former Yendi DCE, Iddrisu Iddi, 76, Alhaji Baba Iddrisu Abdulai, 54, Kwame Alhassan, 53, and Mohammadu Abdulai, 57. The others are; Saibu Mohammed, 34, Alhassan Mohammed Briamah, 40, Alhassan Ibrahim, Mohammed Mustapha and Sani Moro. The rest are; Baaba Ibrahim, Yakubu Usifu, Ahmed Abukari, Abdul Razak Usifu and Alhassan Braimah.

Zakaria Forest, the man alleged to have cut-off the head and hands of the Ya- Na, is at large.

The prosecution's case is that sometime in March 2002, the Ya-Na and some of his elders were killed following a clash between the two royal gates in Dagbon, the Abudus and Andanis. After the clash, Idrissu Gyamfo and Yidana Sugri were arrested and prosecuted for the alleged murder but they were acquitted and discharged. The government in a fresh attempt to find the murderers conducted a dawn swoop at Yendi during which 41 persons were rounded up. After screening them in Bimbilla, 33 were granted self-recognisance bail, while the rest were brought to Accra and subsequently others were arrested and were arraigned. The case has been adjourned to October 25. 20 Oct. 10