Police Blamed for Death of Bimbilla Chief

N/R Minister

The Northern Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has indicted the Police and the Military for their alleged security lapses and negligence that led to the unfortunate murder of the Paramount Chief of Bimbilla, Naa Dasana Dawuni Andani and four others in Bimbilla last Thursday. Five other persons including a four month old baby also sustained injuries and are still on admission at the Tamale Teaching Hospital. 

According to the Northern Regional Minister and Chairman of the REGSEC, Mohammed Muniru Lemuna, the gruesome murder of the Chief was carried out by the unknown assailants after the Police personnel on guard at the Chief’s palace had unjustifiably vacated their posts. 

At a Press Conference in Tamale, the Minister asserted that the Police personnel detailed to the Palace were supposed to wait till the soldiers take over from them in the evening, but rather shut down entire security network at the palace and left the place vacant for the assailants. 

Alhaji Lemuna insisted that the matter was being investigated by the authorities to ascertain why the police put up such behavior and who actually ordered them to vacate their posts.

The Nanumba North District Chief Executive, Alhaji Ibn Abass and the District Police Commander have since been invited by the REGSEC for questioning. 17 other suspected persons have also been arrested by the Police in connection with the incidence. 

The Minister said that he had moved to Bimbilla together with the members of REGSEC to meet the District Security Committee and also visited the palace of the late Naa Dasana Andani. 

The REGSEC, he said had since deployed more troops to Bimbilla and its surrounding communities such as Makayili and Wulensi to deal with any likely spillovers.

The Council in accordance with a directive by the Interior Ministry, according to the Minister had also reviewed the Curfew in Bimbilla town from 9:00pm to 5:00am to 6:00pm to 6:00am making it dusk to dawn curfew.  

He said that the incident was a betrayal to the REGSEC since all the two sides in the Chieftaincy stalemate had earlier been engaged by REGSEC in several meetings and had reached an amicable resolution on 30^th May 2014.

Alhaji Lemuna said that the REGSEC in no uncertain terms condemned the heinous crime and however appealed to the people in the area especially the affected persons to exercise restraints, whiles government and the security investigate the matter.

He said that government was determined to pursue the perpetrators and bring them to book without shielding any of them. 

Meanwhile, the Defence Minister, Mark Owen Woyongo who doubles as Acting Interior Minister, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Alhassan, the Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Lemuna and the Regional Police Commander, DCOP Ken Yeboah as well as other members of REGSEC have visited Bimbilla with Helicopter of the Ghana Armed Force.