Extend Dagbon State Of Emergency - Army Commander

The Army Commander, Major General clayton Yaatche, has recommended the Dagbon Traditional Area. He also said the curfew hours should also remain the sam (9 pm to 5 am) press at Yendi about the outcome of a security team’s two-day visit to Dagbon Traditional Area to ascertain the prevailing security situation there.

Among his entourage were the Inspector General of Police, Nana S. Owusu Nsiah, the General Officer Commanding the Northern command, Brigader, George Aryiku, the Commissioner of Police in-charge of Operations, Dr K.K. Manfo, the acting Northern Regional Minister, Mr Ernest Debrah and some to security officials.

Major General Yatche explained that the security situation at the moment calls for the extension of security measures, adding that “as much as it inconveniences the people, that is the price we must pay to ensure lasting peace in the area.” Major General Yaatche touched on dangerous aspects of rumours and speculations and appealed to the media to always endeavour to cross-check their reports on the Dagbon issue and indicated that “we have a critical role of bringing about peace that we all yearn for.”

The IGP, on his part, appealed to chiefs, politicians, intellectuals, opinion leaders and individuals to guard against statements that have the potential of inflaming passions. He said, If we don’t help to bring about permanent peace now, posterity will judge us”. Nana Owusu Nsiah noted that the amount of money being expended by the government to maintain peace in Dagbon could have been channeled into development projects to enhance the quality of life of the people. He however assured the people that the Interior Ministry and for that matter the government is working assiduously to find solutions to the crisis, and noted that this cannot be achieved without the support of the people themselves.

He therefore asked the leadership of the gates, the Andanis and the Abudus to co-operate fully with the security agencies and the government to achieve this laudable objective. Earlier, the security command held a meeting with the Yendi District Security Committee (DISEC) where they were briefed on the security situation.

They also held separate meetings with some members of the Andani and Abudu gates. They later visited the Gbewaa Palace, interacted with a cross section of the security personnel and donated 10 bales of used clothing to some of the victims of the clash.