Calm Returns To Babator, Badagor

Babator (N/R) The Northern region security committee (REGSEC) has appealed to those who fled Babator and Badagor in the Bole district in the wake of tension following the murder of the chief of Badagor last month, to return home. Mr Gilbert Iddi, northern regional minister, made the appeal when he led members of REGSEC to the area where many of the villages have been deserted. Mr Iddi, who addressed the inhabitants at separate meetings at Bamboi, Busiama and Yaara in the Brong Ahafo region, where they have sought refuge, assured them that adequate measures have been taken to ensure their safety. A deteachment of police have been despatched to the area. Tension between the Mos and Gonjas heightened following the chief's murder as a result of a dispute over fishing rights in rivers in the area. The Battor chief, Besar Gordor, was allegedly ambushed and killed for refusing to pay royalties to the Gonja traditional council. The chief of Babator and eleven others are standing trial on provisional murder charges. The police raided Babator on April 24 to arrest the suspects as a result of which the people fled to the Brong Ahafo region. The Battors at Badagor fled to Bamboi following threats of attack by the Gonjas. Mr Iddi said the REGSEC is committed to ensuring the maintenance of peace in the region and would move swiftly to curb any conflicts. The chief of Chibrinyo, Naa Buare Ntiri the second, said the Mo traditional council would do everything to avert confrontation with the Gonjas. He appealed to REGSEC to investigate the cause of the incident to help bring lasting peace in the area.