Soldiers kill man for allegedly breaking curfew
Some military personnel deployed to maintain peace in the Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo District in the Northern Region, following a chieftaincy conflict in the area, last Friday evening shot dead a resident for allegedly breaking a curfew imposed on the area.
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A curfew, from 4pm to 6am, was imposed on the community by the Ministry of the Interior as part of measures to restore peace in the area following the chieftaincy clashes that claimed the lives of two persons and resulted in the burning down of several houses in Bunkpurugu about two weeks ago.
The deceased
The deceased has been identified by the police as James Duut, 36. His body has since been deposited at the mortuary, while the police are conducting investigations into the case.
The Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo District Police Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mr Felix Kumador, told the Daily Graphic that Duut was alleged to have broken the curfew.
“A scuffle is said to have ensued between Duut and the soldiers when he was questioned by the military team during their patrols,” he said.
In the process, he said, the gun of one of the soldiers fell on the ground and incidentally went off, killing Duut instantly.
Mr Kumador said no arrest had been made so far but indicated that the police would deal with any person who would be found guilty of the offence in accordance with the law.
Another view
But another version of the incident said Duut was chased into his house by the soldiers and shot dead.
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According to some relatives of the deceased, Duut was shot in his room by the soldiers without any provocation.
After Duut had been shot dead, the relatives said the soldiers even called the deceased’s wife to go and observe the sad spectacle.
Appeal
ASP Kumador appealed to the residents who had been angered by the action of the security personnel to exercise restraint and allow the police to conduct investigations into the matter.
The incident is said to have raised tension between the security personnel and residents who are not happy about the conduct of the security personnel in their effort to maintain peace in the area.
Sources close to the security personnel in the area said the residents hurled stones at the soldiers because they were angered by the turn of events.
Background
The age-long chieftaincy dispute between two ethnic groups in the Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo District was resurrected last two weeks following a misunderstanding between the two feuding parties that led to the death of two persons and the destruction of property, including houses.
The conflict has displaced many people internally, especially women and children who have had to seek refuge at the local police station and elsewhere. The chieftaincy dispute has also retarded development in the area.
The government through the Ministry of the Interior imposed a curfew on the area as part of measures to restore peace after the deployment of a joint police and military team to the area to maintain peace.
The sector Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, last Tuesday visited the area and met with the two feuding parties. He urged them to use dialogue to resolve their dispute instead of resorting to arms that had the potential to escalate the conflict.
Mr Woyongo, during the visit, also addressed the security personnel deployed to the area to maintain peace and urged them not to antagonise the people.
He also appealed to the people to return their guns for cash.