THE NORTHERN Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has deplored heavily armed Military and Police personnel to Gushegu and the Konkomba areas of the Gushegu Ditrict to protect lives and properties of the Fulani settlers in the area.
The Fulani herdsmen on Wednesday 7th December 2011 came under heavy attack from some irate Konkomba youth who were purportedly wielding offensive weapons and succeeded in killing at least 13 Fulanis and inflicting cutlass and bullet wounds on 11 others.
The Northern Regional Police Commander, ACP George Tuffour told Savannahnews the Police and the Millitary are currently having over 150 Fulanis including women and children under their protection at the Gushegu District Police Station whiles the Gushegu District Assembly is also providing shelter for over 500 others with food, water, and other essentials.
According to him, even though no arrest had been made so far, the Police and the Military had commenced their investigations and interrogations that would lead to the arrest of the yet to be identified perpetrators. The irate youth are said to be from Zamanshigu, Sogu, Tooti and Damanko.
On the other hand, the District Chief Executive (DCE) of Gushegu, Alhaji Fuseini Alhassan in an interview with Savannahnews said the incident took the people of the area “unaware”.
The DCE could not immediately tell the cause of the violence, but suspected that it was as a result of the nefarious activities of the Fulanis in the area.
Somewhere last year January 26, 2010 this paper reported about how the activities of the alien Fulani Herdsmen was threatening the security of the residents in and around the Gushegu District of the Northern Region.
These aliens were alleged to be the brain behind major robberies, indiscriminate rape of women and the burning of farms leading to considerable loss of farm produce stored in the farm houses and those yet to be harvested.
They are also believed to be engaged in the cutting down of economic trees in feeding their animals which was making the area more prone to desertification.
Residents on several occasions had engaged in confrontation with these herdsmen and raised concerns over their continuous stay in the district and had therefore called on the authorities to as a matter of urgency eject them or closely monitor their activities.
Many had blamed them for the poor harvest which had impacted negatively on the food security of the district regarded as one of the bread baskets of the region.
In that report the DCE for the area, Alhaji Alhassan Fuseini in ensuring maximum food security and protection of the investments of the farmers in his area, issued a stern warning to Fulani Herdsmen in the area to behave themselves.
Hon Fuseini disclosed that majority of the farmers usually store their produce in large quantities in the farm due to unavailability of transport to convey them to the market centres or to await good market prices.
The DCE, who announced plans by the District Security Committee (DISEC) to closely monitor the activities of the Fulanis, said a stiffer punishment would visit any of them who would cause any devastating havoc in the district this year.
He disclosed that majority of the farmers who cultivated rice, maize, groundnut and yam in commercial quantities, took loans from the banks, credit unions and other institutions which they were supposed to repay in due cause.
However, the DCE said there is calm in Gushegu at the moment and assured the rest of the Fulanis of their safety in the land.
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