SECURITY AVERTS CLASH (PAGE 3)

Story: Zakaria Alhassan,

THE swift intervention of the Bimbilla North District Security Committee has averted a possible clash between Konkombas and
Nanumbas over a protracted land dispute.
The long-standing feud between the two ethnic groups over the right custodian of Nakpaa, a farming town in the Nanumba North District, was renewed last Tuesday when a group of Konkombas was reported to be planning an attack on some Nanumbas in the area.
However, the DISEC intervened swiftly to arrest the four persons who were mentioned in connection with the planned attack. They have since been released to assist in investigations. Their names were not disclosed for security reasons.
At the moment, the DISEC is holding a series of reconciliatory talks between the leadership of the two groups, which the District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area, Mr Salifu Seidu, described as fruitful. He added that the situation in the town was also calm.
The misunderstanding follows claims by the Konkombas that they will no longer play subservient roles to the Nanumbas who are said to be custodians of the land.
The Konkombas insist that they are also natives of the land on which they had stayed for generations and so they would no longer purchase any piece of land from the Nanumbas.
In a move to resolve the disagreements, the DCE, who is also the chairman of DISEC, disclosed that there was a recommendation from the meeting to the effect that none of the two groups should engage in the selling of any land in the town, unless on the express recommendation of the substantive Nakpaa-Na (chief of Nakpaa), who is a Nanumba and presently based in Bimbilla.
He further warned that any individual or group that would disturb the existing peace in the district would be made to face the full rigours of the law.
The two ethnic groups clashed over the issue about 14 years ago and that resulted in some fatalities. Since then there have been deep-seated suspicions and disagreements over the rightful custodians of the land.