Tension Builds Up In Yendi

Security personnel are reported to have intensified patrol in the Yendi township following the burning of a house at Zohi-Fong, suburb, last night by unidentified people during the celebration of Eid-UL-Adha, the Muslim feast of sacrifice.

The house is said to belong to Asachiyale, a prominent member of the Andani family and this has caused tension to build up between the Abudu and Andani royal gates which have been locked up in a conflict over the Dagbon Chieftaincy affair.

A police source at Yendi told the Times yesterday that property worth millions of cedis and an unspecified amount of money were burnt fire. Nobody was hurt.

According to the source, a group of unknown persons smashed the windscreen of a car belonging to a youngman popularly called Anabi Luto some hours before the house was burnt.

Both incidents happened after a drumming and dancing session at the Palace of the Boni-Lana, head of the Abudus, to mark the Eid-UL-Adha festival.

When contacted by the Times, the Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, said it was too early to make any comments on the incident.

He, however, said that he had directed the Yendi District Security Committee to ensure that the problem did not escalate.

He appealed to chiefs and other opinion leaders in the area to restrain their people and allow the security committee to get to the bottom of the matter.

At the time of filing this report around 4.30 pm yesterday, the district and regional security councils were still meeting over the issue and the town was said to be calm with residents going about their normal activities.