Deputy Information Minister, Mr Pius Hadzide, says military and police deployment has been stepped up across the Volta and parts of Oti regions for the safety of the population, property and national assets.

He disclosed that the heavy deployment of these forces could be seen at Juapong, Aflao, Kpando, Hohoe, in the Volta region, Kete-Krachi and Kpassa in the Oti Region.

However, Alavanyo and Nkonya that already have security concerns have been subjected to review due to the exigencies of the times.

He said officers and other security men were currently on standby awaiting deployment to other areas to quell any further disturbances from any secessionist group.

Mr Hadzide said this after an inter-ministerial consultation dialogue among major security agencies was necessitated following the insurrection by a group calling itself the Western Togoland Restoration Front, seeking to secede from the country.

Present were Mr Kan Dappah, National Security Coordinator, Mr Dominic Ntiwul, Minister of Defence, Mr Ambrose Dery, Minister of Interior, Mr Dan Botwe, Minister of Regional Integration, Mr Kofi Dzamesi, Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mr Pius Hadzide, Deputy Minister of Information and the Regional Security Council members led by Dr Archibald Letsa.

The Deputy Information Minister said some 60 arrests were made in relation to the activities of the insurrection out of which 54 suspects had been remanded and the rest processed for court.

He disclosed that the Volta Regional House of Chiefs unanimously condemned the barbaric act of the group and denounced any support for the group.

He said the government would continue to dialogue with major actors excluding the suspects arrested in this matter for the sustenance and maintenance of the peace and security of the region.

Mr Hadzide said “government is unwilling to dialogue with unknown criminals,” stating that there are enough security men and women on the ground to safeguard the peace of everybody.

On instituting a curfew, he said: “no decision has been taken yet, but all options are on the table.”

Volta Regional Minister, Dr Archibald Letsa, debunked allegations that he was a financier of the separatist group indicating that he was instituting legal action against media houses and presenters that offered their platforms to the group to peddle falsehood to tarnish his hard won reputation.

He cautioned the public against sacrificing their safety for curiosity in security operations and urged the public to avoid massing up to avert being casualties.