Tampulma victims receive relief items

The Northern Regional Minister, Mr Salifu Sa-eed, has presented relief items worth over thousands of cedis to victims of the Gonjaland-Tampulma clash which resulted in the death of two people and displaced many.

The items consisted of 120 mattresses, 120 bags of rice, 20 bales of used clothing, 200 bags of cement, 20 packs of roofing sheets, gallons of cooking oil, bathing buckets and cups, among others.

Dissah, a community in the North Gonja District in the Northern Region was burnt down by some gun-wielding Gonjamen alleged to have come from Daboya.

About two weeks ago, some 50 fully armed men on motorbikes attacked Dissah, a Tampulma community in the Gonjaland and burnt down their houses amidst sporadic shooting.

In the process, John Bikari, a 45-year-old man was hit by a bullet and died instantly.

Another person, a 91-year-old woman, Damah Kara, was burnt to death when her house was torched.

The Northern Regional Minister has, however, indicated that the Northern Regional Security Council has mediated between the two feuding factions to restore calm.

According to him, government is committed to promoting peace and stability in the area and will do all it can to ensure a lasting solution to the problem.

Mr Salifu Sa-eed, however, called on philanthropists, NGOs and the general public to come to the aid of the affected victims as their houses and properties had been destroyed.

He revealed that some of them had slept in the bush for days for fear of their lives.

Meanwhile, the youth groups of both tribes have agreed on a ceasefire and promised to allow peace to prevail.

An affected victim, Madam Ayishatu who spoke to DAILY GUIDE, commended government for the quick response to their aid indicating that the items came at the right time.

She said the attackers burnt down their houses and destroyed their foodstuffs plunging the community into famine.

She, therefore, appealed to other institutions, organizations and individuals to come to their aid since government alone cannot shoulder all.