Hohoe Curfew: 2 Homes Burnt As Muslims Plan Reprisal Attacks

Radioxyzonline.com can confirm that some Muslims are gearing up to face-off with members of the Hohoe Traditional area after two houses belonging to Muslims were torched at dawn despite the curfew imposed on the community by the Volta Regional Security Council. The indigenes were angered by the arson attack on the residence of the paramount chief of Hohoe, Torgbega Gabusu, on Monday where properties worth thousands of Ghana cedis were destroyed. The chief also lost some of his ancestral relics that represent the tradition of the people. Violence broke out in Hohoe last Monday after members of the Muslim community blamed the paramount chief of ordering the exhumation of the body of their deceased Chief Imam. The Muslims went on rampage, vandalizing the chief�s palace to register their displeasure. But for the timely intervention of the police and military personnel, the situation would have escalated. The indigenes went out to burn down stalls and shops belonging to members of the Zongo Community. On Tuesday night, the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osumanu Nuhu Shaributu, visited the area to calm tensions among the Muslim community and to dialogue with the chiefs and people of Hohoe on the way forward. But there were reports that Torgbega Gabusu refused to meet the Chief Imam when the latter arrived in the area. It is not clear if the chief ordered the attack but a local reporter in Hohoe, Makintoch Grathan-Jaisey, told XYZ News residents of the Zongo community were fleeing the town for fear of further reprisal attacks. He said the police are finding it hard to perform their duties effectively due to the complex nature of the Hohoe township. Makintoch reports that some indigenes of the area are also accusing the police of victimizing them under the pretext of enforcing the curfew. Meanwhile the Volta regional minister, Henry Ford Kamel has told XYZ News, there is relative peace in the area. He said after the deliberation with the Chief Imam and leading personalities in the community, they are hopeful that the situation will abate in no time. He indicated that if there is a need for a review of the current curfew, it will be done.