TAMALE REGENT CONDEMS VIOLENCE (SPREAD)

THE Tamale Regent, Gukpegu Gbang-Lana Alhaji Ziblim Abdulai, has condemned the political violence in Tamale and Gushiegu but blamed the situation on the inaction by the security forces in the area to act swiftly.
He recalled similar disturbances that had occurred in parts of the region, including the Tamale metropolis, over the years and regretted that the perpetrators of those violent acts had still not been prosecuted. The chief, therefore, appealed to the government to ensure arrest and prosecution of all perpetrators of crime to protect life.
“My people are gradually losing confidence in the security and what this means is that my people will now have to protect and defend themselves in the face of any provocation, since the security has woefully failed in their respective duties to protect us,” the chief said.
He also suggested that political rallies and activities be suspended until sanity prevailed and solutions found to the recurrent political disturbances in the area.
Alhaji Abdulai who was addressing a press conference at his palace in Tamale yesterday, further revealed that, “I have information that the perpetrators are also preparing to attack some people in Yendi and Tamale, and if nothing is done immediately the situation could get out of hand.”
The Gbang-Lana, who was surrounded by a retinue of chiefs and elders, indicated that the violence was now taking a different dimension from politics as chiefs were being targeted in the attack.
Among the deceased in the Gushiegu disturbances was an 80-year-old chief, Nangol-Lana Abukari Ziblim.
“Indeed those behind such wicked plans and machinations are doing that knowing very well that they can kill or maim others with impunity without anything happening to them,” he observed.
“And in Tamale for instance, most people know those wielding guns because they do it in the open with some carrying weapons in an unregistered pick-up vehicle yet the security pretends that they do not know who are behind the shooting in the area,” the chief further stated.
He, however, entreated the people to remain calm and not take the law into their own hands at the least provocation.