Bunkpurugu feuding parties commit to peace following visit of high level security team
The two feuding parties in the chieftaincy dispute in Bunkpurugu have pledged their commitment towards ensuring lasting peace in the area.
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The nine-year dispute between the Jafouk and Jamond families has so far claimed 13 lives.
It has also led to the destruction of several property, including residential buildings, thereby retarding development in the town.
The two parties made the pledge last Saturday when the acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr John Kudalor, led a high-powered delegation made up of members of the National Security Council, the Northern Regional Security Council and the Bunkpurugu District Security Committee to visit the town.
Delegation
The delegation included the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Richmond Kwame Opoku Adusei, the Deputy National Security Coordinator, Alhaji Chrenekpo Osuman Salifu, the Deputy IGP in charge of Operations, Mr Christian Tetteh Yohunu, the Northern Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police Mr Ken Yeboah and Lt Colonel William Kwabiah, the Commanding Officer (CO) of the Sixth Infantry Battalion.
The security capos were in the troubled area to assess the security situation on the ground and to broker peace with the key stakeholders in the dispute following last Tuesday’s violent clashes that claimed three lives and destroyed 35 houses.
So far, one person, Tetteh Tanko, 28, described by the police as a notorious criminal, has been arrested in connection with the death of one of the three persons.
The arrival of the delegation generated calm in the town. Both sides of the road leading to the Bunkpurugu main town were lined up by heavily armed police and military personnel when the IGP and his entourage passed.
Only a few people were still in the town, as rumours indicated that most of them had fled upon hearing that the IGP and a team of the police and military were coming from Tamale.
Commercial activities in the town were yet to bounce back as most shops were locked up.
Effects
The conflict, according to some concerned indigenes, was having dire consequences on the social, economic and education activities in the town.
Some of the residents complained that anytime the conflict erupted, the only Senior High School (SHS), Bunkpurugu Senior High and Technical School, had to be closed which invariably also affected the academic performance of the students.
Other residents expressed concern that since the conflict started, none of the perpetrators had been prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to like-minded persons and, therefore, pleaded with the authorities to ensure that peace returned to the area.
Tour
Mr Kudalor and his team visited some of the affected areas to familiarise with the extent of damage and later met with the two factions in the dispute.
In separate meetings with the Paramount Chief of the Bunkpurugu Traditional Area, Alhaji Abuba Absimong, who is also from the Jafouk family and the spokesman for the Jamond Family, Mr Elisha Naan, the IGP appealed to them to ensure that there was peace since the conflict was having a negative effect on the national resources and security.
He said without security, there would be no development, explaining that when there is fear and panic, people would not be able to go about their daily activities.
Leaders
For his part, Alhaji Absimong noted that the delay in the ruling of the court on the Bunkpurugu chieftaincy dispute had been the source of the continued violent clashes in the area. He, therefore, appealed to the government to hasten the process.
He said his family was ready to accept and abide by the court ruling “whichever way it goes.”
Mr Naan also expressed similar sentiments that the Jamond family would accept the court ruling since they were the ones who took the matter to court to challenge the legitimacy of the enskinment of the chief of the area.
The bone of contention between the two royal families had been about the legitimacy of the current chief.
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Alhaji Absimong was enskinned by the Overlord of the Mamprugu Kingdom, Nayiri Bohagu Mahami Sherriga.