Alhaji Idris warns of any part of the Northern Region relapsing into conflict

Bimbilla(N/R), Dec. 28, GNA - Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, Northern Regional Minister on Wednesday, warned that no part of the region would be allowed to relapse into conflict that would endanger the prevailing peace and security in the region and derail its development. He said the Northern Regional Security Council (REGSEC) had taken measures to ensure that every potential area of trouble in the region was swiftly nipped in the bud.

Alhaji Idris gave the warning at a meeting with assembly members from Nanumba North and South District Assemblies, Chiefs, Opinion leaders and the youth following rumours of an imminent clash between the two ethnic groups in the area; Nanumbas and Konkombas in Bimbilla. Present at the meeting were; Mr Ephraim Barakatu, Northern Regional Police Commander, Group Captain Isamil Abdul-Rahim Abass, Sixth Garrison Commander, members of REGSEC and District Security Committees (DISECs). The recent rumours of attacks between the Nanumbas and Konkombas in the two districts centred on the use of an appropriate measuring container for the purchase of grains at the Chamba market and the protracted chieftaincy dispute between Nakpa-Na Salifu Dawuni and Mr


Andani Dasana contestants to the Bimbilla Skin. On the issue of the measurement of grains for sale, both the sellers and the buyers contended that they were being cheated. Alhaji Idris therefore, suggested that they adopted measuring scales as pertaining in neighbouring French-speaking countries such as Burkina Faso and Togo.


Alhaji Idris said the Nanumba Districts were bread baskets in the production of food crops for the country and should not be turned into a conflict area. He noted that people in the region had suffered a lot from intermittent conflicts and warned "No group of people or any individual would be allowed to hold the development of the region to ransom". Alhaji Idris said the security agencies would soon undertake a swoop to retrieve illegal weapons from people in the two Nanumba Districts.


The Northern Regional Minister warned indigenes of the area staying outside the region to desist from "fanning flames of conflict" for their selfish interest and rather contribute to peace building in the district. Alhaji Idris appealed to the Judicial Committee of the Northern Region House of Chiefs to expedite action on the protracted Bimbilla Chieftaincy dispute to bring peace to the traditional area. He commended security personnel in the area and the DISECs for their tireless efforts in maintaining peace and security in Bimbilla and the entire Nanung traditional area.

Group Captain Abass, Commander of Sixth Garrison said the security agencies would spare no efforts in ensuring that peace prevailed and warned that nobody was above the law therefore, anyone who tried to breach the peace would be arrested and prosecuted.


Mr Salifu Sa-eed, Nanumba North District Chief Executive said the DISEC upon hearing the rumours of attacks held series of meetings between the chiefs and opinion leaders in the communities to find out the cause or reasons behind the rumours. He said during the meetings, opinion leaders from the two ethnic groups denied any preparations for an attack on one another and said they were also baffled at the rumours. Mr Sa-eed said in order not to be taken unawares, the DISEC and security personnel had intensified security patrols in the district.


Mr Thomas Donkor Ogajah, Nanumba South District Chief Executive on his part said on hearing of the rumours, members of the DISEC went to the various communities to assess the situation on the ground but found no evidence of any moves towards any kind of conflict. He said based on the findings, he regarded them as rumours but added, "Not withstanding this lack of evidence, every effort would be made to ensure that the peace that we have enjoyed in the district remained intact".