The Upper East Regional Police Command has handed over to- the Criminal Investigations Department in Accra the case involving 17 people arrested in Bawku in connection with the conflict in the municipality. According to the Upper East Regional Police Command, the suspects were being transferred to Accra to facilitate speedy investigations and trial. The suspects were transported by road to Tamale on Tuesday from where they were airlifted by military aircraft to Accra. Among those transferred to Accra is John Awunbila Ndego, said to be a top adviser to the Bawku Naba, who was arrested over the weekend for allegedly attempting to smuggle arms and ammunition to Bawku. Also included is police constable Daniel Yeboah, who is alleged to have stolen a rifle belonging to a colleague policeman on peacekeeping mission in Bawku and sold it to a civilian. Briefing the media prior to their departure, the Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Ofosu-Mensah Gyeabour, said the government was determined to ensure that peace prevails in Bawku in order to allow law-abiding citizens to go about their activities peacefully. "We are transferring these suspects to Accra because friends and relatives frequent our offices to plead for their arrested relatives and this has proven a discomfort for us," he said, adding that CID personnel from the region who were accompanying the suspects would assist their counterparts in Accra to ensure a speedy investigation and trial of the cases. Source: Daily Graphic