Dr. John Krugu, the NPP Parliamentary candidate for Zebilla, has revealed that the total number of fatalities as a result of the conflict exceeds what is being reported in the media.
Speaking on ABC in the Morning, he made the claim that the death toll may be over 100, following activities of hired assailants outside the borders.
“Officially you have 19 people whose lives have been taken in one week. And i am using the official word very carefully. Because, what we have in Bawku now is a war situation, and war people don’t record when they are loosing their work forces.”
“I am aware much more lives have been lost than the 19 reported in the media. And actual numbers should be hitting around by now,” he said.
Dr. John Krugu, has also indicated that the imposition of curfew by gov’t has deepened frustrations among residents in the Bawku area.
He stated that the curfew has so far been ineffective in restoring peace to the locality.
On Monday, October 28, 2024, the Ministry of Interior imposed a daily 12-hour curfew on Bawku in the Upper East Region, following renewed and deadly clashes in the area.
The decision was reached during an emergency meeting of the National Security Council, chaired by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in response to escalating violence tied to a long-standing chieftaincy dispute.
“The curfew only makes people more angry.”
“Among these 19 reported dead. Most of the killing happened around Walewale.
“The Bawku people are very angry that, why is the curfew imposed in Bawku and not in Walewale where the killings are happening,” he said.
Dr. John Krugu disclosed that the only way for peace to be restored in the locality is the swift apprehension of the “illegal chief”.
He emphasized that local authorities and security agencies need to prioritize the arrest of Alhaji Seidu Abagre, whom the government has described as the illegal chief.
He further added that the renewed crisis has forced all campaign activities in the area to be suspended.
