A youth group at Chereponi in the Northern Region, Movement for Nkpakpaando (MoFN) has accused the Ghana Military of being behind a recent shooting incident that led to the loss of lives in the community.
The group alleges that the military opened fire on innocent residents of the community and are assisting one faction to perpetuate the violence.
According to the MoFN, the military in Chereponi have collaborated with the Chokosis to destroy properties and kill Kokombas.
In their assessment of what transpired, the group indicated, “some of the residents in the war zone reports that, the Military sides with Chokosis and allows their fighters into Konkomba Communities to set them ablaze while they (Military) themselves shoot and or injure kill any Konkomba they chance. Though other reporters said the Military is believed to be moving with Chokosi civilians in the militart uniforms and when they get a Konkomba community they alight and set ablaze the communities while the real military protect them.”
A statement signed by its President Justice Sibdow Njonam and other executives, the group expressed their disappointment in the military and requested that they be changed to restore peace and order in the community.
They alleged that the military officers are being directed by the DCE for Chereponi to maltreat on the Kokombas in the area.
They note that the relevant stakeholders have been ineffective and performed abysmally much to their disappointment.
“We are by this medium appealing to the Regional Security Council, the Ministry of interior and the Ministry of Defense to thoroughly investigate and put the Military into order before they finish Killing Konkombas in their various communities. The Movement wants to state without any reservations that, the DCE for Cheriponi is behind the conduct of the military to kill our people and should be removed from office by the president of the Republic” the statement contained.
STOP KILLING OUR PEOPLE; MOVEMENT FOR NKPAKPAANDO RE-ACTS TO THE REPORTED ACTIONS OF MILITARY PERSONNEL DEPLOYED TO FORESTALL CALM IN CHERIPONI CONFLICT!
The Movement for Nkpakpaando (MoFN), a Konkomba youth Development Movement expresses out unhappiness to the Military troop deployed to CHERIPONI to enforce peace.
The youth group learnt out of shock that the military instead of protecting and preventing further escalations of the protracted Conflict is rather seen taken sides and opening fire, killing and injuring Konkomba in their communities.
Yesterday in the evening (March 16, 2019) Military in the patrol opened fire on the residents of a community called Ugando Killing one instantly and injuring another while two additional men were arrested and picked away by the military.
This morning (17th March,2019), the Movement is reliably informed that additional Konkomba are shot in differnt locations killing some instantly. The victims of the actions of the military include: Naamuk Janyal, who was pursued from Nambir and Killed at Yawbuasu, a farming community where he was running to seek refuge. others include: Labor Npem, who was shot and currently in Critical conditions and one Npiinla Bilagai who died instantly. The two men were actually running for Cover after their communiy Puulor was set ablaze by the Chokosis. Military after carrying out those acts still set ablaze 2 motorbikes belonging to the two men.
Some of the residents in the war zone reports that, the Military sides with Chokosis and allows their fighters into Konkomba Communities to set them ablaze while they (Military) themselves shoot and or injure kill any Konkomba they chance. Though other reporters said the Military is believed to be moving with Chokosi civilians in the militart uniforms and when they get a Konkomba community they alight and set ablaze the communities while the real military protect them.
Other reports revealed that early part of the morning, Military Opened fire into the community called Nasoni where one was Killed instantly and one other sustaining gun shot wounds.
The Movement is devastated upon receiving those bad reports from the actions of the military and wish to appeal that if true as reported then the Military hierarchy deployed to the area should be withdrawn and replaced. We know that in times of conflict or war, the military is to protect the people and repel the fighters but not to be on one side and killing the members of other factions while allowing the other freedom to fight. We are by this medium appealing to the Regional Security Council, the Ministry of interior and the Ministry of Defense to thoroughly investigate and put the Military into order before they finish Killing Konkombas in their various communities. The Movement wants to state without any reservations that, the DCE for Cheriponi is behind the conduct of the military to kill our people and should be removed from office by the president of the Republic.
Background to the Renewed Clashes
On March 15, it was reported that unknown individuals on a motorbike opened gunfire on Chokosis who were celebrating a wedding ceremony in Nakweigu,a village near Cheriponi injuring one person during the curfew hours of 10 pm. Chokosis blindly concluded and linked the shooting to Konkombas and subsequently raided a Konkomba Community at Dawn and set it ablaze and killing 2 Konkomba in the process.
The DCE for the area who is not only biased but against Konkombas was heard reporting to Joynews on certainty that Konkombas from Nabom attacked the celebrants.
We want to ask the DCE for Cheriponi the following questions:
1.As the DCE and the Chairman of DISEC,when the shooting was done in the night, why didn’t you report it to the security but rather mobilized your tribemen to attack the nearby Konkomba Community a dawn?
2.There was already a 12 hour curfew from 6:00PM to 6:00AM imposed in the area,why were the wedding celebrants still out during curfew hours?
3.How did The DCE know that those who shot into the crowd were Konkombas? If he knows ,why didn’t he order the arrest of those People?
Based on the above analytical questions, the movement appeals to the President to as a matter of urgency remove the DCE from the office because he is the one who mobilized and sponsors his tribesmen to go to war against Konkombas in the District.The DCE should be made aware that ,Chokosis, his tribe people are not only people he is ruling in the District,hence should be mindful of his biased attitude in this matter.
The movement is also appealing to Konkombas to remain law abiding people and should not try to attack any security personnel.Both Konkombas and Chokosis should give peace a change and let calm return
The security need to be circumspective and neutral in the performance of their duties.In fact! the military zshould not take sides and maltreat Konkombas,they should act professionally to promote peace and restore calm in Cheriponi and its environs.
May God Give us PEACE
President-MoFN
……..sign………
Mr.Justice Sibdow Njonam
(+233 24 058 8959)
General Secretary-MoFN
……sign……
Mr. David Naboare
(+233 54 109 8521 )
………sign…..
PRO-MoFN
Abraham N.Nlenkiba
(0541567038)
By: Jonah Eledi/awakenewsonline.com