Gbevlo-Lartey ordered 'shoot-to-kill' during Hohoe clashes - Gbi State

The Gbi Traditional Council has accused the National Security coordinator, Lt. Col. Gbevlo Lartey of using "coercive strategies like the imposition of curfew, the deployment and ordering of soldiers to shoot on sight the citizens of Gbi" during the recent clashes between the Zongo community and supporters of the paramount chief in Hohoe.

In a statement issued by the Gbi Traditional Council and signed by Togbe Worde IV, Divisional Chief of Gbi Kpeme, the council alleged that the National Security Coordinator also publicly stated and has hitherto refused to either recognize or have anything to do with the committee set up by the Gbi State to spear head the process towards a peaceful resolution of the current impasse in the Hohoe community.

According to the Gbi State, the conduct of the National Security Coordinator is a deliberate attempt to intimidate the indigenes of Hohoe even though they were the most affected in the recent clashes.

It will be recalled that on 11th June, 2012, members of the Zongo community clashed with indigenes of Hohoe after the body their local Chief Imam was exhumed and dumped at the road side by some unknown people.

Members of the Zongo community went on rampage and vandalized several properties in the Hohoe Township including the official residence of Togbega Gabusu VI, the palace of the Gbi Traditional Council and other properties of the Gbi State. Two people lost their lives in the clashes.

A curfew was imposed on the township with several leaders appealing to the feuding factions to resolve their differences and live in peace, but according to the Gbi state, Lt. Col.. Gbevlo-Lartey and other security agencies instead of ensuring peace are rather protecting the Zongo community.

“We the people of Gbi cannot sit down and watch the MUSEC and the security apparatus deployed to protect the Zongo community as if we the people of Gbi are secondary citizens of the Republic of Ghana”.

They added that “in the current situation, we the people of Gbi are the disadvantaged, not the Zongo community that carried out the riot. Our Paramountcy has been attacked, our innocent children have been killed and/or maimed, and properties vandalized”.

The strongly worded statement was concluded with the assurance that “we, the people of Gbi, will give our total support to the Government in our quest for a lasting peace so long as the mediators and emissaries do not have any hidden agenda and/or undermine our Stool, Chiefs, Customs and Traditions”. Read Full Statement**