The
Chief of Army Staff, Maj. Gen Richard Kwame Opoku-Adusei, has ordered
the arrest of the Chief Imam of Tafo, a suburb of Kumasi in the Ashanti
Region, for allegedly instigating the between Muslim youth and and
indigenes of the area.
The order according to Citi News’ Ashanti Regional Correspondent, Hawa Iddrisu, was issued by the army chief on Thursday.
Iddrisu
reports that Army Chief, who is in the company of police officers and
REGSEC members in the Ashanti Region, were met by an angry mob wielding
machetes forcing them to retreat and change their route.
She said
the team were on their way to meet the head of the Muslim community
when the youth blocked them. Hawa Iddrisu adds that the security team
from Accra including Ajhaji Osman Salifu, the Deputy National Security
Coordinator and the REGSEC, are locked up in an emergency meeting at the
Golden Tulip Hotel in Kumasi.
Tensions are high in the Tafo
Township following the Wednesday clashes over a piece of land that left
25 year old Aminu Sulemana dead, several others injured and property
destroyed.
The destruction of property extended to some churches and a Mosque.
The
confusion started after the demolition of a fence wall built by the
Muslims to protect the cemetery land which they claim belongs to them.
Curfew
and arrest The Ashanti Regional Security Council on Wednesday imposed a
dusk to dawn curfew in order to protect lives and property.
Meanwhile
several of the youth in Tafo on Thursday gathered in front of the
Chief’s palace, in anticipation of possible attacks from the Muslim
youth, who previously besieged the palace to vent their anger over the
destruction of the cemetery’s fence wall.
But the police have confirmed the arrest of one person who was firing gunshots indiscriminately in the company of a gang.
The
gang members managed to escape but he was nabbed. Despite the security
measure, Citi News’ Hawa Iddrisu, says there is still simmering tension
in the area.
But the Ashanti Regional Police Commander, DCOP Kofi
Boakye, has told Citi News the police is earnestly investigating the
incident and will bring the perpetrators to book.
He says the
curfew will only be lifted when the situation is calm. Schools closed
down Hawa Iddrisu says some school authorities have shut down in fear of
further attacks. Some teachers told Citi News they closed down the
schools because most pupils were absent.
He said, “Parents are not comfortable with the security in the area.
If
they allow the children to come, they don’t know what will happen
afterwards.” Another teacher said they asked the few children that
turned up to go home “because of the clashes.”
Source: citifmonline
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