Tamale turns into dead zone curfew imposed
The Northern Regional Security Council has imposed a curfew on the Tamale Metropolis as an interim measure to curtail rising tension which has already claimed one life.
This follows the acquittal and discharge of 14 persons being tried for the killing of the overlord of Dagbon, Yaa Naa Yakubu II, a ruling that has angered members of the Andani Royal gate.
The curfew takes effect from 11:00pm on Tuesday March 29 2011, but it is not clear when it ends on Wednesday.
One person was killed around the Tamale Central Mosque on Tuesday night amidst rioting by angry youth.
Eyewitnesses say he was shot by soldiers who have taken over the Tamale metropolis to protect human lives and property as angry youth burn car tyres and destroy several belongings owned by the incumbent government.
Citi News’ Northern Regional Correspondent, Abdul Karim Naatogmah reports that at about 8:45pm on Tuesday, the middle-aged man believed to be part of the rioting was shot by soldiers after he ignored several warnings whilst speaking on phone.
Abdul Naatogmah described the situation in Tamale as a matter of “life and death”.
He said the body of the deceased has since been deposited at the Tamale Hospital Mortuary as the military continued to fire shots to disperse rampaging youth.
He also reported that the angry youth burnt down an NYEP office building.
Early on in the evening, irate members of the Andani Royal Gate who are also members of the ruling NDC, set the Northern Regional office of the party on fire following the acquittal and discharge of the 14 persons being tried for the killing of the overlord of Dagbon, Ya Na Yakubu II.
The Tamale Central constituency office was also attacked, but because it is a rented building, files and other documents were taken out and burnt by the irate party members.
The Fast Track High Court in Accra on Tuesday March 29, 2011 acquitted and discharged all 15 Abudu suspects standing trial for the murder of the late Dagbon Overlord Ya Na Yakubu Andani II.
Trial Judge, Justice E K Ayebi disposed of the matter for want of evidence.
The Defense counsel, led by Samuel Atta Akyea, filed a ‘Submission of No Case’ following the failure of the Prosecution to present more witnesses.
Though Prosecution had closed its case in early November last year, it filed an affidavit to re-open the case claiming there was recorded audio evidence of the sixth accused, Alhassan Braimah having confessed to murdering the Ya Na.
The confession was allegedly recorded by one Moses Nsor.
All the 15 suspects pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to the murder. The seventh accused, who is facing an additional charge of murder has been at large.
One of the suspects in police custody, Iddrisu Iddi, who is the Mbadugu was spared police detention due to old age.
Citi FM’s Northern Regional correspondent Abdul Karim Naatogmah reported that dozens of Andani youth, who claim they joined the NDC because of the party’s promise in the run up to the 2008 general elections to prosecute the killers of the Ya Na, are threatening fire and brimstone.
Some have also threatened to attack members of the Abudu family. Most of the acquitted were Abudus.
Source: Citifmonline/Ghana
Category: News
