By Albert Futukpor, GNA
Tamale, March 12, GNA – The Savannah Regional Peace Council has condemned recent violent incidents in parts of the region that have resulted in the deaths of seven people, injuries to several others and the displacement of some residents.
The incidents occurred in the Gbinyiri enclave in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District and Fulfulso in the Central Gonja District prompting the Council to call for calm, restraint and cooperation with security agencies to prevent further escalation.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Council and signed by Reverend Father Lazarus Annyereh, its Chairman, and Mr Kennedy Atiibo, its Executive Secretary, and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Tamale.
The statement said the first incident occurred on March 05, a Gbinyiri market day, when armed men alleged to be Fulbe, reportedly robbed individuals travelling to the market leading to the death of a resident identified as Puozuo, a member of the Birifor community.
It said the incident triggered retaliatory attacks by some aggrieved persons on nearby Fulbe settlements resulting in the deaths of four Fulbe, injuries to several others and the displacement of many residents.
It said a second incident occurred on March 08 at Fulfulso, also known as Damongo Junction, where armed robbers alleged to be Fulbe, attacked a mobile money vendor killing him and another passerby and injuring four other people.
It added that the attack reportedly sparked further retaliatory assaults on Fulbe settlements causing additional displacement.
The Peace Council condemned both the criminal acts of armed robbery and the retaliatory violence against innocent members of the Fulbe community emphasizing that attacking individuals solely on the basis of ethnic identity was unacceptable and unlawful.
The statement clarified that the recent incidents had no known direct connection to the Gbinyiri crisis that occurred in August, last year.
The Council called on security agencies to intensify investigations and take decisive action to apprehend and prosecute the perpetrators of the crimes while urging communities to reject mob justice and allow lawful institutions to handle such matters.
It also appealed to traditional authorities, youth groups and opinion leaders to promote dialogue and peaceful coexistence amongst the diverse ethnic groups in the region and encouraged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to the security agencies.
It said the region had long been recognised for peaceful coexistence amongst different ethnic groups and urged residents to uphold the values of tolerance, respect and unity to safeguard peace and development in the region.
GNA
Edited by Eric K. Amoh/Lydia Kukua Asamoah