General News of Monday, 1 June 2009

Source: GNA

Bawku made to sleep, three reported killed

Bawku (U/E), June 1, GNA - Three men have so far been killed in Bawku the latest being an employee of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Mr Felix Asibi.

Mr Musah Abdulai, Bawku Municipal Chief Executive, speaking on Monday morning in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Bolgatanga, said Mr Asibi was killed in his house in the early hours of Monday by unknown persons, who took away his motor bicycle and other valuable items in the house.

Mr Asibi, a 34 year old Frafra man, was said to have been ordered to lie down whilst the armed men raided his room and afterwards shot him before leaving the house.

Meanwhile Bawku is a sleeping town because the people were instructed by the Municipal Security Council (MUSEC) not to leave their homes on Monday morning until permission was given them to do so, Mr Abdulai said.

He explained that the urgent curfew was imposed because of the security situation that could escalate and get more serious if people were allowed to move around freely.

Mr Mark Woyongo, Upper East Regional Minister said two views had been given for the cause of the violence which started on Friday night, while some attributed it to robbers shooting and killing the first victim when he tried to make a phone call upon seeing them drive away someone else's cattle, another view says it was as a result of the release of four persons who were put in police custody during the last conflict. The four were said to have returned home amidst jubilations that did not please some people who then protested with gun shots. The Regional Security Council led by the Regional Minister left Bolgatanga Monday morning to Bawku to assess the situation at first hand and decide on next course of action. Meanwhile, Security Personnel are all over the Municipality to ensure that nobody caused further problems.