Blood-bath looms in Yendi, tonight

…Military, Police deployed to stop Abudus from celebrating Damba.

Tonight,Thursday, February 25, 2010 promises to be a bloody one for the people of Yendi who are preparing to celebrate the Damba festival, the annual event used by the people of Dagbon to Prophet Mohammed.

This likely Armageddon would be due to the fact that a detachment of security personnel including about 200 military men and 150 policemen have been deployed in Yendi ostensibly to prevent those of the Abudu Gate from having a parallel celebration to that of the Regent of Dagbon, Kampakuya Na Abdulai Yakubu Andani.

As we speak, Abudus are feverishly rehearsing on the Yendi Air-strip towards the celebration on the night of Thursday, February 25, 2010, the invasion of security men notwithstanding.

They have allegedly vowed to resist any attempt by any person or force to stop them from having their celebration. They are also said to be heavily armed, and Yendi being a predominantly an Abudu territory, security personnel could have a tough battle on hand should they attempt to carry out the alleged intention to prevent the Abudus from having their celebration.

A cursory drive through Yendi would reveal how the Yendi Municipality has become a security zone, however a source disclosed to this writer that the Abudus will go ahead to have their celebrations anyway, just as they have done since 2002 after the murder of the former overlord of Dagbon, Yaa Naa Andani.

Some members of the military cum police detachment also said they actually do not know the details of their mission in that city, but believe they are there to ensure there is peace during the Damba celebrations.

It has been alleged that the current Regional Minister, Moses Bukari Mabengba is determined to follow the footsteps of his former boss, Stephen Nanyina to foment trouble in the already volatile area.

The former Regional Minister was alleged to have ordered security personnel to stop Abudus from celebrating the Fire festival while the people were already on a procession, an order the security personnel allegedly resisted.

Mr. Mabengba is alleged to be the brain behind the deployment of the security personnel just to please the Regent of Dagbon, Kampakuya Na Abdulai Yakubu Andani.

After Stephen Nanyina’s removal many thought his successor would learn from the mistakes of his former boss, but, as things stand now, it seems Mr. Mabengba woulod oanly toe the lane of Nanyina.

The Kampakuya Naa is alleged to have indicated that he would not tolerate any parallel celebrations of the Damba to what he would celebrate. “He believes the Abudus’ celebration would mean there are two overlords of Dagbon,” a source suggested.

He is therefore alleged to have impressed upon the political authorities in the region to do all things possible to stop the rival gate from celebrating.

Some Abudus are alleged to have promised the security personnel a tough battle on Thursday night.

The people of Dagbon celebrate the Damba festival annually to honour Prophet Mohammed’s birthday.

This, they do under the auspices of the Yaa Naa, however after the murder of Yaa Naa Andani in 2002, the two chieftaincy gates of Dagbon Andanis and Abudus have had parallel celebrations until this year.

It has been suggested that the Andanis are only exploiting their proximity to the current government to exert their authority in the area and show their rivals ‘where power lies.’