The minister (3rd left) and the regional minister soon after disembarking the chopper
The Defence Minister, Dominic Nitiwul, has led a powerful security delegation to the Nakpachei community over the recent communal violence in the area.
The minister visited the Nakpachei community with the Northern Regional Security Council (REGSEC) led by its chairman, Salifu Saeed, who is also the Northern Regional Minister.
The defence minister paid a courtesy call on the Regent of Dagbon, Kampakuya-NaaYakubu Abdulai Andani and the Regent of the Abudu Royal Family, Boling-Lana Mahamadu Abdulai, at their various palaces.
He thanked both regents for their swift intervention when the incident at Nakpachei occurred.
Addressing the residents of Nakpachei, the minister said the fight at the Nakpachie community is an embarrassment to all Northerners.
“The defence minister is a Northerner, the interior minister is a Northerner, the vice president who is head of Armed Forces Council and Police Council is a Northerner; so why are you fighting and embarrassing us,” he declared.
The minister warned that the Nakpachei incident should be the last conflict in the Northern Region.
He pleaded with the people of Nakpachei that if any of them has an issue with anybody he should hand over that person to the police for them to deal with him according to the law.
“If anybody commits a crime, let the law take its course, let the police and military do their work, don’t take the law into your own hands,” he added.
According to the defence minister, President Akufo-Addo is concerned about the security of the area and assured the people of Nakpachei that the area is safe and pleaded with residents who have fled the area to come back home.
“There is no conflict between Konkombas and Dagombas; there was communal violence at Nakpachei and so there is no conflict between the two tribes – Konkombas and Dagombas living in different areas in the north,” he disclosed.
He appealed to the chiefs and people of Nakpachei that whatever had happened should be treated as a criminal case and so they should let the police deal with the criminal aspect of it.
Mr. Salifu Saeed re-echoed that anybody who is found with a deadly weapon or does anything to disrupt the peace at Nakpachei would be dealt with severely by the security personnel.
He gave an assurance that the police would investigate the incident, bring the perpetrators to book and make them face the law.
The minister appealed to the two parties to live in peace and harmony, adding that Dagombas and Konkombas are brothers and sisters and should therefore live together.
Two persons have since been arrested in connection with clashes between a Konkomba man and a Dagomba at Nakpachie near the Yendi Municipality of the Northern Region over the killing of a pig.
FROM Eric Kombat, Nakpachei