Task force storms Tamale in search of arms

A police task force is to be deployed to the Northern Region, to begin a house-to-house search for weapons, as a measure to end days of bloodshed and destruction of properties. Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, Northern Regional Minister, says supporters of various political parties are stock piling weapons waiting for the end of the month-long Ramadan to start full fledged conflict. The minister told the Northern Regional Security Council that the Interior Ministry has duly been informed, and the task force will immediately be dispatched into the region. After more than three days of volatile violence, political party representatives have accused opposing supporters of openly brandishing weapons with impunity, and threatening mayhem. But even before the task force arrive in Tamale, an expert on small arms Afi Yakubu said without specific information on the location of weapons, “the work of the task force will be a search for needle in the dark” Speaking to Joy news’ Akwasi Sarpong, Afi Yakubu said the way to go was to increase sensitisation for violence free election. She has also called on political leaders to openly denounce any body that uses weapons as a means of campaigning. Answering a question on how the natives got access to the weapons, Afi Yakubu accused the security of not doing enough to prevent the stock piling of arms. “You don’t wait for the rains to fall on you before you close your door” she remarked. But the police task force may not have too much to do as Gushiegu, one of the two towns embroiled in the violence, risk becoming a ghost town. Samson Lardi Ayenini, Joy Fm’s Northern Region correspondent reported that residents, mostly women and children were fleeing the town in anticipation of reprisals. Already, three deaths have officially been recorded, with more than 30 houses believed to have been set on fire. The District Chief Executive of Gushiegu, Abubakari Mahama, who has been accused of ordering the gun shots, is to be questioned by the security forces. Statements have been taken from him and his accusers to facilitate investigation into the matter. Author: Nathan Gadugah

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