The Overlord of the Mamprugu Kingdom, Naa Bohagu Mahami Abdulai Sherigah II, has renewed his call for the complete removal of the curfew in Walewale and surrounding communities.

He cites the curfew's crippling effect on local livelihoods and social life.

His latest appeal comes amid rising tensions in the area, with youth groups planning intensified protests to demand the removal of North East Regional Minister Ibrahim Tia, whom they accuse of failing to manage the region’s security challenges effectively.

The curfew, initially imposed on February 15, 2025, by Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, followed a violent attack along the Walewale-Bolgatanga Highway that claimed seven lives, including two foreigners, and saw several commercial vehicles destroyed.

Since April 28, 2025, the curfew has been in effect from 10 PM to 4 AM, but it continues to face stiff opposition from residents, who argue it has disrupted normal life and worsened economic hardship.

During a recent visit by President John Mahama to Nalerigu, the Nayiri urged the government to reconsider the curfew in light of what he described as a return to normalcy in the region.

“It is worth noting that the area has remained peaceful for some time now. In light of this sustained calm, I respectfully appeal to the government to reassess the situation and consider a complete withdrawal of the curfew.

"Doing so will help restore normalcy, boost local commerce, and bring relief to the people,” the Nayiri stated.

Tensions have also been inflamed by reports of military operations in Walewale and nearby communities such as Loagri, Kukua, and Gbimsi, which left two civilians—Imoro Hafiz, 36, and Alhaji Sumaila, 45—dead, and several others injured between January 14 and February 15.

Alhassan Sandah, a youth leader, accused Minister Tia of endorsing the curfew without community consultation and failing to address recurring violence on the Tamale-Walewale-Bolgatanga-Bawku-Pulmakom highway.

“The local economy is on the brink of collapse,” Sandah warned. “Minister Tia’s unprecedented incompetence has made things worse. He should have advised the government to lift the curfew. Peace has returned.”

He continued, “We don’t want violence, but we won’t accept being pushed too far. We’re treated this way because we lack a voice.”

Sandah said youth would hold continuous protests until the Minister is removed, and called on national leaders to directly engage with the community.

While the Interior Ministry maintains that the curfew remains essential for maintaining peace—and has banned the carrying of weapons, with violators facing arrest—residents argue for increased highway patrols and more community-based security interventions.

The Nayiri’s renewed appeal, backed by persistent youth agitation, reflects a growing demand for dialogue and more targeted security measures that do not suffocate daily life.

Residents are now awaiting a government response to address both the curfew and deeper grievances fueling unrest in the North East Region.