The Interior Ministry has directed the Nanumba North District Security Council (DISEC) to not allow access to the abattoir at any of the butcher groups which refuses to present its share of meat to the regent as custom demands.
According to the ministry, any butcher group which intends to have access to the abattoir could only do so if they abide by the rules and regulations governing the traditional area, which mandate every butcher to take a share of their meat to the regent as he represents the custodian of the area.
The Deputy Minister for the Interior, Mr James Agalga, made this known when he paid a courtesy call on the regent of Bimbilla, Yelinbolingu-Naa Abdullai Dasana, and some members of the two butcher groups in the town on Tuesday.
Background The two butcher groups in recent times engaged in clashes over the refusal of one group to present their share of meat to the regent as custom demanded of them, leading to the loss of 13 lives.
Mr Agalga’s entourage included personnel of the Interior Ministry, the Commissioner of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), Mr Prosper Agbor, the Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna, and some members of the Regional Security Council (DISEC).
The visit was part of efforts to bring back sanity and peace in the area following the clashes.
Peace Mr Agalga said the directive was part of measures to restore peace and tranquillity in the area, adding that the DISEC would deal with anyone who would go contrary to the directive given.
“We are in the region to express our condolences to the bereaved families who lost their loved ones in the recent shooting incident and to as well let them know that the government will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that all the perpetrators are brought to book,” he said.
He explained that the review of the curfew in the area from the initial 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. to 6a.m. was a temporary measure by the government to ensure that the peace was not compromised in anyway.
Mr Agalga called on the regent of the town to use his position as the traditional ruler of the area to help restore peace and unity.
Alhaji Limuna, for his part, promised Mr Agalga that the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) was working to restore peace to the area, indicating that calm had already returned.
The regent, Yelinbolingu-Naa Abdulai Dasana, described the incident as very unfortunate and disheartening and pledged the support of the traditional area to REGSEC in ensuring that the area did not record any case of violence again.
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