Chereponi conflict: Police is 'overwhelmed' – Commander admits

The Northern regional Police commander Chief Supt. Henry Amankwaatia has admitted he and his men are overwhelmed in the persistent conflict between Konkombas and Chokosis in the Chereponi district.

In the recent clash, two persons have been confirmed dead and dozens of weak mud-houses have been burnt in the violence allegedly triggered by an attack on a Chokosi native of Togo who came last night to attend a pass out ceremony for her Ghanaian sister.

The chief of Wenchike, Naa Buuba, confirming the skirmishes said, the Chokosi man was shot on his motorbike while returning to Togo Friday night at about 8pm, after the ceremony.

“He came and supported the sister and went to one of his friend house. He is sitting on top of the motor when one Konkomba man shot him, he fell down and they brought him to my palace,” he told Starr News from his base in Wenchike, one of the largest community of the jungle district where sporadic conflicts continue to slow economic and social development.

Speaking to Morning Starr Monday, the Police commander appealed to government to send more security operatives to the area to help control the clashes.

“I’m overwhelmed. Now both factions have become aggressive, attacking each other. When it comes to situation like this, you don’t know what to do. So I’m overwhelmed . I’m overwhelmed to a greater extent. We have more of the Konkombas coming around to attack the people of Chokosi. It’s surprising how this fight is just escalating. Government intervention is what we’re looking forward to now.” He said

He also denied claims the police are patrolling safe areas in the district saying “we are not patrolling only the safe areas because nowhere in this area is cool”.