The Member of Parliament for Walewale, Dr Mahama Tiah Abdul-Kabiru, has criticised the government's decision to impose a curfew on Walewale and nearby communities in the North East Region, describing it as “poorly made and politically motivated.
Dr Abdul-Kabiru’s comments follow the curfew order by the Interior Ministry after two recent attacks in the area, which are believed to be linked to the ongoing Bawku conflict.
In a statement, the MP said he had not been consulted before the curfew was announced, despite the decision affecting his constituency.
The Interior Ministry together with the Ministry of Defence consulted with MPs from the Bawku area without extending an olive branch to those of us equally affected in this matter. This is clearly a decision that does not seek to foster peace but an attempt to use state power to unjustifiably punish innocent civilians,” he said.
Dr Abdul-Kabiru argued that if the government truly believed a curfew was the best security solution, it should have been extended to other troubled areas such as Binduri, Zebilla, and Garu, where travellers have also suffered deadly attacks.
“Between December 2021 till date, there have been at least 25 attacks in these areas, 3 of which occurred in the last one month. The selective application of this security measure suggests that the lives of travellers to and from Bawku do not matter,” he stated.
The MP suggested that boosting highway patrols and providing military escorts for travellers would have been a more effective approach than imposing a curfew.
“Half of the police and military personnel that will be used to enforce this curfew would have provided the security for travellers and businesses,” he noted.
Dr Abdul-Kabiru accused the military of brutality against innocent civilians in the area, saying their actions had led to the death of one person and left several others injured.
In the last two days, the military have tortured any person on sight in Kukua, Loagri, Walewale, Gbimsi and Wulugu communities, leading to the loss of one life and several others maimed,” he alleged.
“The decision to impose the curfew and communication from the Interior Minister suggest that the people of Walewale are those responsible for the attacks. This is clearly a deliberate misunderstanding of the situation,” he said.
He called on residents to remain calm and cooperate with security services to maintain peace.
Violence should have no place in our society, and cooperation with the security agencies is key to fostering peace and stability,” he urged.
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