THE YOUTH of Agogo in the Asante Akim North District of the Ashanti Region have descended heavily on the National Security Coordinator, Larry Gbevlo-Lartey, over his recent comments that the people of Agogo are troublemakers and that he is going to deal with them.
Calling the bluff of the security chief, the Agogo youth, who had been at war with Fulani herdsmen in recent times, dared Lt Col Gbevlo-Lartey to do his worst.
The youth called for the withdrawal of the security personnel sent to the town, saying that Agogo was not at war to warrant heavy presence of security.
The National Security Coordinator was reported to have stated in an interview with Ghanaian Times that the National Security would not allow the people of Agogo to take the law into their own hands.
In the said publication headlined �Agogo trouble makers warned�, the security chief purportedly stated that the state security apparatus would deal ruthlessly with any native of Agogo who dared cause trouble in the town.
However, at a press conference to react to the comments made by the security capo yesterday, the Agogo Youth Association described the remarks of Gbevlo-Lartey, who had equally come under attacks from NDC activists, as most unfortunate.
Emmanuel Buabeng, chairman of the association, told journalists that the comments were regrettable because it sought to portray the people of Agogo as rabble rousers.
He explained that the people of Agogo were peace-loving people who had accommodated people of varying descent in their midst for the past years without any trouble and therefore did not deserve to be described as trouble makers.
The chairman said it was unfortunate for the National Security capo to misconstrue their legitimate action of protecting lives and property as well as their lands from the invasion of Fulani herdsmen as rabble-rousing.
Mr Buabeng noted that if the National Security boss wanted to have a fair idea of the caliber of people of Agogo, then he should examine the lifestyle of the late Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu and Kwaku Kyei, former Minister of Finance and former IGP respectively, who hailed from Agogo.
The youth leader indicated that they would no longer cross their legs and sit down whilst the Fulani herdsmen continued to visit mayhem such as indiscriminate raping of women, killing of men and the destruction of farm produce and lands.
Mr. Buabeng noted that in spite of their frustrations, they had not taken the laws into their own hands as the National Security coordinator wanted the world to believe; but had rather engaged the traditional council, the police and other stakeholders in an effort to resolve the problem.
He said the Fulani herdsmen should rather be blamed for taking the law into their own hands because they handled AK 47 rifles and also raped women even in the presence of their husbands.
He emphasized that had it not been for the peace-loving nature of the people of the town, the area would have been in turmoil because the people were fed up with the atrocities being committed by the Fulani herdsmen.
Mr Buabeng welcomed the government�s directive that all herdsmen should vacate the area in two weeks but urged the government to enforce its directive for the reason that the people would then take the law into their hands to drive the Fulani herdsmen away should the government fail to honour its promise.
He stressed that the people in the area would not allow even a single Fulani herdsman to stay behind, therefore, warning the government against speculations that some of the Fulani herdsmen would be made to stay behind.
The chairman took a swipe at the invasion of the town by security personnel, noting that the town was not at war and therefore did not require such a heavy security presence.
Mr Buabeng said the security presence was most needed in the bush where the Fulani herdsmen had taken over the land and not in the town where residents were going about their lawful activities.
Source: Daily Guide/Ghana
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