The Minister for the Interior, Ambrose Dery, stated that individuals who violated the curfew imposed on the Nkwanta township, restricting movement from 5 pm to 6 am, have been prosecuted, thereby calming tensions in the township.
However, he acknowledged the underlying land dispute and the need for sustained efforts.
Mr. Dery also announced the involvement of the National Peace Council and NADMO to assess the situation and find solutions.
Additionally, he proposed setting up a committee with the Lands Commission on board to address the land conflict.
“Let me inform the house that the curfew is being imposed, and a number of people who have breached the curfew have been sent to court, fined, and convicted. So there is some calm, but we are the first to admit that because the matter is a land matter, we cannot take this calm for granted. I want to assure the house that it is not just the police that are working on it, but also the National Peace Council has come in…We will be sending NADMO to go to the area to find out what we can do to ameliorate the situation,” Mr. Dery said.
However, the MP for Nkwanta South, Geoffrey Kini, highlighted the severity of the situation, reporting 11 deaths within the first 24 hours of the conflict.
He described the once vibrant town as a ghost town, with many residents fleeing to escape the violence.
He emphasized the impact on education, farming activities, and called for peace from all stakeholders for normalcy to return.
“Mr. Speaker, within the first 24 hours of the outbreak of hostilities, 11 people were officially reported dead. The usual vibrant and dexterous township degenerated into a ghost town, with hundreds going to near and distant towns and villages and others barricading themselves and their families in their homes to escape being killed,” he said.