Security personnel in the Northern Region have organized an operation show of force in the Northern Region, to assure residents of their safety ahead of the Yuletide and the funerals of the two late Dagbon chiefs.

The operation is also to warn potential troublemakers about police’s preparedness to deal with illegal activities.

Ahead of the Christmas celebrations, criminal activities are expected to increase in the area, Tamale Police PRO DSP Yussif Tanko has said.

There is also the heightened security in Dagbon in the Northern Region as the community prepares to perform funerals of two of its late chiefs.

The funerals for the late Mahamadu Abdulai and that of Yakubu Andani both of which will be held in the Gbewa palace at different times is expected to be the beginning of the roadmap for peace in an area with a reputation for conflict in many years.

Joy News’ Northern Region correspondent Martina Bugri reports the police are ready to maintain peace in the area.

Already, there is heightening tension in the area over threats of resistance by a group to stop the funeral of the late Mahamadu Abdulai from taking place in the Gbewa Palace.

Dagbon, which was once a peaceful community has been torn into a conflict zone over a chieftaincy dispute between the Abudus and the Andanis.

Disagreement over who is the rightful heir to the throne has led to conflicts and full-blown war, which in 2002, led to the beheading of the then Ya-Na, Yakubu Andani.

Since 2002 there has been an uneasy calm with the two factions still jostling over who, where and when to perform the funeral rites of the leader of Abudu faction Mahamadu Abdulai.

The Andanis claim the late Mahamadu did not die as a Ya-Na and would resist any attempt to have his funeral performed in the revered Gbewa Palace.

There is also the issue about when to organise the funeral of the late Ya-Na Yakubu Andani.

Shortly after his murder, the then president John Kufuor constituted a committee of three eminent chiefs led by the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu to mediate between the two families and to find an amicable solution to the conflict.

After a decade-long mediation between the two families, the chiefs announced a roadmap for peace which includes the organisation of the funerals of the two late Ya-Nas.

That of Mahamadu Abdulai will be conducted between December 14-28 after which that of Ya-Na Yakubu Andani will be conducted in January.

Ahead of the first funeral, there is tension in the area with some threats of resistance.

But the police insist there will be no room to tolerate troublemakers.

Police PRO in the Northern Region DSP Tanko Yussif said they are ready to deal with miscreants who will foment trouble

“We are poised to protect citizens in whatever circumstance. Christmas is approaching. Criminal activities do soar during Christmas. We also have a lot of activities ahead of us. Farmers Day is here in the Northern Region.

“We have two funerals to perform in Yendi so we need to come out and let the people understand that their defenders are here; we have the resources, we have the men we have the equipment and we are going to defend them,” he said.