Northern REGSEC wants to maintain security personnel in feuding communities

The Northern Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has decided to retain the security personnel deployed to the Nakpanduri and Kpamale communities to maintain law and order following the tribal clashes to forestall any eventualities.

The decision was taken after the team, led by Mr. Moses Bukari Mabengba, Northern Regional Minister, on Saturday toured the communities to assess the situation on the ground.

The team comprised Mr. San Nasamu Asabigi, Deputy Northern Regional Minister, the Northern Regional Coordinating Director, DCOP George Tuffuor, Northern Regional Police Commander, heads of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), the Ghana Armed Forces, and other security agencies, including the Ghana National Fire Service.

The Kokombas and Bimobas in these communities last Monday clashed following disagreement over a parcel of land belonging to a basic school at Kpamale.

Nakpanduri and Kpamale are Kokomba and Bimoba neighbouring communities respectively, in the Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo District, which until last Monday’s incident, had witnessed no conflict history.

However, the new demarcation of the land by the Nakpanduri Chief was reportedly contested by his Kpamale counterpart thus resulting in the clashes.

Three people were killed, four others sustained gunshot wounds, and over 90 houses built mostly with mud and thatch roofing were burnt down though the security agencies responded swiftly to bring the situation under control.

The Police have arrested one person and retrieved two locally manufactured guns on him, while six other suspects are still on the run.

The incident has reportedly put fear in the residents of Kpamale, who suffered more casualties with most of them fleeing their homes.

Though calm has returned to Kpamale, the Ghana News Agency observed that many houses were still vacant.

The delegation on the way to communities, made a stop-over at Gambaga to be briefed by the Commanders on the ground, and then moved to the Nalerigu Palace of the Nayiri, Naa Bohagu Mahami Abdulai Sherigu, overlord of Mamprugu Traditional Area in the East Mamprusi District to learn more details about the incident.

The Nayiri had earlier mediated over the issue that triggered the clashes.

The heads of the two tribes involved in the incident were also at the Palace to receive the Minister and to state their sides of the issue.

However, the GNA learnt later that both sides were not ready to soften their stands on who was the rightful owner of the disputed land.

At Kpamale and Nakpanduri, Mr. Mabengba with the other REGSEC members inspected some of the burnt houses, and expressed the Government’s condolences to families that lost their dear ones in the incident.

He appealed to the residents to embrace peace to ensure the rapid development of their communities and assured them of maximum security.

At Kpamale, a funeral was being held for one of the victims of the incident, where the Regional Minister and the delegation consoled the bereaved family and donated an unspecified amount of money towards the funeral. He thanked the Nayiri for the support given to the troops since their deployment to the communities.

The Nayiri said judging from the actions of the two tribes, it appeared that other issues, especially chieftaincy, were behind the clashes.

He said his Kingdom had picked signals that the Nakpanduri Chief was trying to usurp the authority of his Kpamale counterpart by planning to install a chief at Kpamale, which was traditionally wrong.

He further said it was only he, (Nayiri) who had the right to install or enskin a chief for any of the areas under his jurisdiction.

He therefore threatened to withdraw the traditional swords symbolizing authority of both chiefs if they continued to conduct themselves contrary to the traditional norms.

The Ministry of Defence has sent a delegation to the Nayiri, Naa Bohagu Sherigu, to commiserate with him at the loss of lives during the conflict and see how to collaborate to maintain peace in the two communities.

The delegation, whose visit coincided with the REGSEC’s tour, was led by Brigadier General Mr. Martin Ahiaglo, Acting Chief of the Army Command, who is also the Commanding Officer of the Southern Command.

Mr. Ahiaglo called on the feuding factions to embrace dialogue as a means of resolving disputes, saying it would result in a win-win situation.

Meanwhile, NADMO has started delivering relief items to residents who have been affected by the clashes.**