The Deputy Minister of the Interior, Mr. James Agalga has said the security situation in Bimbilla in the Nanumba North District is still very high.
He has implored to the residents to allow peace to prevail.
Agalga has warned that until the factions involved in the recent disputes relax their entrenched positions and embrace peace, the current curfew hours of 16 hrs GMT to 06 hrs GMT will be strictly enforced.
“We will continue to monitor the security situation in Bimbilla to determine whether to review the curfew hours or not,” said Agalga while briefing the media after a number of private meetings with the regent of Nanum Traditional Area, Yelinbongu Lana Abdulai Andani and his elders, as well as members of the Butchers Association.
Accompanying the minister on a tour of the area to determine the security situation were Alhaji Limuna Mohammed-Muniru, Northern Regional Minister, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Mr Ken Yeboah, Northern Regional Police Commander, and other security commanders in the region.
According to Agala, the butchers had refused to withdraw from their entrenched positions after the Regional Security Committee issued a directive enforcing that all individuals must sign bonds before being allowed to operate as butchers at the abattoir.
The security personnel have been warned not to allow entrance to any butcher to the abattoir, unless they have first signed the undertaking.
Agala stressed that all people must abide the law and must be respectful of authorities and their jurisdiction.
Alhaji Mohammed-Muniru has urged residents to ensure the sustention of the limited peace in the area and to allow it to be built upon in order to work towards a return of development of the area.
He also made it clear that the government does not wish to get involved with chieftaincy issues, but is however concerned with the safety and security needed by the people. He said that the government would do everything in its power to protect the lives of its citizens.
The security personnel who had been stationed at the scene were later commended by the delegation for their services to the nation. They were also encouraged to remain extra vigilant and arrest any person wishing to disrupt the fragile peace of the area.
–
Source: GNA