The Northern Regional Minister, Mr. Shani Alhassan Shaibu, on Thursday (April 14, 2022) led the Regional Security Chiefs on a fact finding mission to obtain first information in order to the arrest of the gunmen who attacked Fulani herdsmen at Zakoli in the Yendi municipality.
The Regional Security team included the Northern Regional Police Commander, COP Timothy Yoosa Bonga, Regional Crime Officer, Bernard Baba Ananga, Commanders of the 6BN and Ghana Air Force among others.
Alhaji Shani Alhassan Shaibu assured the Chief of Zakoli, Naa Abukari Andani and the people that the perpetrators will not go unpunished.
The Minister also implored the community to volunteer reliable information to assist the security in apprehending the criminals and successfully prosecuting them.
“We will not renege on our duty to bring the culprits to face justice but we need your assistance; don’t try to cover up any individual even if you cannot talk here in the open, come to us secretly, we will take care of the rest to serve as deterrent to others” he assured.
THE CUSTODIAN has gathered seven people were killed and several others sustaining gunshot wounds. However, one additional person died whilst they were being conveyed to the Yendi government hospital increasing the death toll to 8.
Three siblings; Umar Jallo, 30, Kadir Jallo, 24, and Yahaya Jallo, 27, were killed in the attack devastating the aged father who was yet to come terms with the incident. The other deceased are; Mallam Osman, Alhaji Baako, Saibu Wubi, and one other person yet to be identified by police.
An aged mother and a young wife were left in a state of grief as they both lost their son and husband respectively who were breadwinners of their families.
Eyewitness account
According to a sub Chief in the community, Gushe Naa Iddrisu Aminu, the attackers numbered more than 20 people. He exclusively told THE CUSTODIAN the foes asked him and some other community members to stay away because it was a fight between Konkombas and Fulanis and that Dagombas were not involved.
The entire Fulani settlements in the neighborhood have been displaced and properties worth tens of thousands including silos belonging to them touched during the attack.
Way forward
Moving on, the Minister directed that a police detachment team should be stationed in the community to monitor the situation and protect lives and properties whilst the government takes steps to provide the needed support to the victims.
He announced that the Regional Coordinating Council and the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) will collaborate to provide first aid interventions including food and other relief materials for their upkeep.
He added the necessary autopsy would be done before the bodies of the deceased are released to the families for burial in accordance with the Islamic faith as they were all Muslims.
He also appealed to the Fulani community to exercise restraint and allow the law to take its course in due time.
“I’m appealing to the Fulani community to exercise restraint, the wheels of the law grinds slowly but it would catch up with the perpetrators. I know we’re in a state of agony now and what we need to do is to quickly arrange for the burial of the deceased” he emphasized.
Psychologist Mr. Shani observed the people are traumatized and therefore require the services of a psychologist to counsel them and bring them back to normalcy.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Konkong, Naa Andani Iddi said the actions of the perpetrators undermines the authority of the state towards peace building and the traditional authorities in the locality and further admonished the Regional Security Counsel to deal ruthlessly with troublemakers in the region for peace and stability to prevail.
