Minister’s intervention halts another tribal war in Northern Region

The Northern Regional Minister has timely averted a potential tribal war between Konkombas and Chokosis in the Chereponi district of the Northern Region.

Tension heightens in the area as both tribes were fully prepared to the brim for a tribal war but a move by the Northern Regional Minister has curtailed another potential catastrophe and violence threats in the region.

Violence erupted between Konkombas and Chekosis near a village at Naaduni in Chereponi in the Northern Region over a parcel of land last two weeks.

Two persons were killed and several properties destroyed in the clash leaving hundreds homeless.

According to the Police, 10 houses, two motorbikes, 5 bicycles were burnt in the clash as well as food stuffs including maize, rice, beans, soybeans, cassava and pepper.

The Police arrested 13 persons including a chief from the Chokosi community. The Police conducted a search and retrieve three single barrel guns, three bottom bracket cartridges and AK 47 rifle containing 20 rounds ammunition.

The arrest of the Chief from the Chekosis side brought immense tension between the Konkombas and Chokosis nearly escalated though a massive a joint police-military presence in the area.

The Joint Police-Military again foiled another reprisal attacks from the Konkomba tribe where about 19 of them were arrested.

Though the suspects have since been granted bail however tensions is still heighten in Chereponi as both tribes threatens for a show-down.

The clash almost degenerated into another full-blown tribal war but for the timely intervention of REGSEC led by the Northern Regional Minister, Hon Salifu Saeed.

In an attempt to fully resolve the matter, REGSEC moved to the affected district to engage with the disputing factions. The team met with the paramount chief of Chereponi Traditional Area, the Konkomba side and the Chokosi (Anufors) side. After series of mediation and counter mediation, both sides pledge to end the dispute and forge ahead in unity.

In the mediation meeting also includes religious leaders, the Konkomba Youth Association and the Chereponi Youth for Peace.

The Northern Regional Minister who earlier on calls for calm between the two feuding tribes at the mediation meeting in Chereponi, Wednesday urged the leaders of the Konkombas and the Chokosis (Anufors) to strive together for development.

He urged the feuding Chokosi and Konkomba factions to halt their hostilities but use their energies to fight against poverty and diseases.

Hon Sa-eed reiterated that, the only enemy of the people is poverty which must be fought by all and sundry. “Poverty is our only enemy so let us bring our arsenals together and fight it instead of fighting among ourselves. Living together peacefully is the only way to fight poverty but we cannot eliminate poverty when we are hostile towards each other and killing one another. We must patched our differences and forge ahead to bring development to our people”.

Hon. Salifu Sa-eed assured the two factions that affected persons would be supported with relief items as soon as possible. Again, the two (2) bodies would be released to its families for burial.

The district assembly has been tasked to take care of expenditures related to burial and funeral rites.

The Northern Regional Minister thanked the chiefs from both sides and the youth in the area for the high level of maturity exhibited throughout the mediation process.

Mr. Salifu Sa-eed tasked the youth in the area to take advantage of the numerous interventions initiated by the NPP Nana Addo led government to reduce the unemployment situation in the country.