The Abudu royal family has accused government of highhandedness in the manner in which about 40 Abudu family members were picked up over the weekend in connection with the murder of Ya Na Yakubu Andani. Most of the suspects have since been released on bail but six of them are being processed for court today. The Attorney General’s Department has been working on the charge sheet that will see the suspects prosecuted. The arrests created some tension in Yendi, forcing police and military to boost their presence in the town. Deputy Information Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, says the arrests followed a period of surveillance and investigations. He dismissed suggestions that the investigations and possible prosecutions is a knee jerk reaction to the mounting pressure from the Andani royal family. “You don’t just get up overnight because you have been pressured and then go make arrests. You need to mount surveillance over a period,” he told the Super Morning Show host Kojo Oppong Nkrumah on Monday. “People talk as if people who know they are suspects or they are wanted or they are criminals will just be there, go about their normal activities, will not attempt to hide... and so when pressure is mounted then government acts,” he added. He explained that seems to be the case because “these days people have become perpetual cynics and whatever action government carries out or the security agencies embark upon, they must be cynical and talk about President Mills having been pressured.” According to the Deputy Information Minister, the calls for the prosecution of the murderers of the former overlord of Dagbon started long ago and should not be deemed to be a knee-jerk reaction to recent agitations. A planned media briefing by the Abudu family on Monday was called off. The secretary to the Bolin Lana, caretaker of the Abudu Royal family, Alhassan Iddrisu, said the arrests were politically-motivated. Meanwhile, Joy News has learnt that members of the Abudu Royal Family based in Accra have called a news conference to throw more light on their concerns. Source: Myjoyonline.com/Ghana