Lawmakers Concerned About Deployment of Nigerian Military

Scott Stearns | Abuja

Share This

• Digg
• Facebook
• StumbleUpon
• Yahoo! Buzz
• del.icio.us

Related Articles

• Nigerian Army Chief Rejects Coup Rumors
• Nigerian Minister Fears Instability Over President's Ill-Health

Nigerian lawmakers want to know who authorized a deployment of troops without the knowledge of the country's acting commander-in-chief.

Nigerian presidents always have troops lining the nearly 30-kilometer drive to Abuja's airport.

They were there again last month when Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua returned after midnight from treatment in a Saudi hospital. But Acting President Goodluck Jonathan knew nothing of his return. Information Minister Dora Akunyili said she heard about it on television.

Because of the president's extended illness, Acting President Jonathan is currently the commander-in-chief of Nigerian armed forces, including those soldiers who were deployed along the airport road without his knowledge.

That has raised concern among some members of parliament about who is commanding Nigerian troops. And it comes at a time when senior officers have repeatedly warned soldiers to stay out of politics, mindful of the instability surrounding President Yar'Adua's illness in a country that has had half-a-dozen coups since 1966.

Ruling-party parliamentarian Patrick Obahiagbon asked about the deployment on the floor of the National Assembly this week. The House immediately went into closed session.

When it was over, Obahiagbon spoke to reporters about his concern.

"Three-hundred soldiers deployed in the middle of the night conveyed in about 25 vehicles with weapons given to them in the wee hours of the night. Supposing the soldiers decided to have a change of mind. And the C-in-C was unaware," he said.

Nigeria's Trade Union Congress wants a public hearing into who ordered the deployment of soldiers without orders from the Commander-in-Chief, saying it is worried that troops trained to respect regimented authorities could act irresponsibly.

Military chiefs briefed lawmakers in private this week about the incident. A parliamentarian who was present for that briefing says the Brigade of Guards was deployed without informing the acting president because those soldiers are responsible for protecting the president and his family, so commanders explained there was no need to notify Mr. Jonathan.

Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Dambazzau was at that briefing. He says soldiers will not be drawn into a political dispute.

"It is a difficult period for everybody, but we believe that it is a political thing. We are not politicians. We are military professionals and we are determined to remain so," said Dambazzau.

The deployment of troops without his knowledge has raised questions about Acting President Jonathan's command of the military. But the strong reaction to that deployment by some of his cabinet members, including Information Minister Akunyili, may have further eroded support among those who still back President Yar'Adua and believe Mr. Jonathan's supporters are over-reacting to a ceremonial detachment of troops showing respect to an ailing leader.

Ibrahim Mark, the general secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association, says some of the acting president's supporters have made the situation worse.

"He has not been able to control these people. So people now will look at him with suspicion. Is he the one authorizing this or authorizing that? I think the information managers in the presidency are not doing too well. We are hearing a cacophony of voices. Nobody seems to be in charge. It is like we are fed with rumors. Nobody seems to talk authoritatively," he said.

Military leaders told lawmakers this week that some politicians have approached them about again taking power in Nigeria, but they have pledged their support to the government currently led by Mr. Jonathan.

Nigerian Army Chief Rejects Coup Rumors

Gilbert da Costa | Abuja

Share This

• Digg
• Facebook
• StumbleUpon
• Yahoo! Buzz
• del.icio.us

Related Articles

• Nigerian Minister Fears Instability Over President's Ill-Health
• Nigeria Making Progress on Power Transfer, Says Analyst
• Lawmakers Concerned About Deployment of Nigerian Military

The Nigerian army chief has ruled out a possible military takeover, as Nigeria grapples with a new leadership crisis after the surprise return of ailing President Umaru Yar'Adua.

Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Dambazzau has moved to reassure the 150 million Nigerians that the army has no intention of returning to politics, in the wake of concerns of a power struggle in Africa's most populous nation.

The intense debate and intrigue surrounding Mr. Yar'Adua's return have prompted fears of an army coup that might return Nigeria to the military dictatorship that existed before 1999.

General Dambazzau says a political solution remains the best option for Nigeria.

"It is a difficult period for everybody, but we believe that it is a political thing. We are not politicians. We are military professionals and we are determined to remain so. Nobody, no matter what no matter the effort, will drag us into it," he said.

President Umaru Yar'Adua returned to the country a week ago, after leaving for medical treatment in Saudi Arabia, three months ago. The Nigerian leader has not been seen in public for more than three months and there have been no official reports on his health.

Indications are that he is too ill to govern, raising fears of a power struggle between his aides and acting President Goodluck Jonathan.

An Abuja-based lawyer has filed a legal action to force the ailing president to appear before the media and prove the state of his health.

Nigeria has a long history of coups and military leadership, and only returned to civilian rule about a decade ago.

Source:VOA News

6 Soldiers Arrested Over Kidnapping

Major General J.N. Adinkrah-Chief of Army Staff The Ghana Armed Forces High Command may be heading on a collision course with their counterparts in the Police Service following seeming underhand dealings by the military in a case involving the arrest of some kidnappers by six brave soldiers. DAILY GUIDE investigations so far into the case, in which the suspected kidnappers were rounded up at their hideout in East Legon, and their Brazilian hostage freed, say six soldiers who responded to the distress call last year October, and seized heavy weapons and military accoutrements including assault rifles, uniforms, handcuffs, boots, bullet proof jackets from the kidnappers, have been placed in detention with no explanation. A senior police officer confirmed the arrest of the kidnappers but was not ready to shed more light, because of what he described as ‘complexity of the case’. In recent times, a number of people, mostly foreigners including a Managing Director of Intercontinental Bank, had been kidnapped under dubious circumstances for huge ransoms. And even though the kidnappers have been handed over to the Greater Accra Regional Police Command and much progress made in effecting more arrests, with startling confessions from the suspected kidnappers, a section of the military hierarchy, for some bizarre reasons, are not comfortable with the foiling of the kidnap attempt, hence a directive from ‘above’ to detain the six soldiers under deplorable conditions. Interestingly, after spending five long weeks in their open-air guardrooms at two separate locations within the Burma Camp, sources close to the military told DAILY GUIDE that Corporals Prosper Gblorkpor, Albert Hlordzie, George A. Ntow, Robert Doku, V. Domabalee and Henry Offei have not been charged with any crime. The action of the military authorities have thus raised a lot of eyebrows within police circles, with some senior police officers wondering if the military hierarchy has interest in the matter. According to the facts of the case, as gathered by DAILY GUIDE sources in the military, the six soldiers, all from the Base Ordinance Depot (BOD) in Accra, on October 14, 2009, received signals from a female colleague that a Brazilian businessman whose name was only given as Paul, was being held hostage by an armed gang in East Legon. The soldiers quickly moved in and within a matter of minutes, overpowered the gang, seizing four AK 47 assault rifles, a pump-action gun, four sets of brand-new Ghana Army uniforms and some ammunition. Two Nigerians and a Ghanaian were arrested and immediately handed over to the Greater Accra Regional Police Commander, Rose Bio Atinga, alongside the seized arms and ammunitions. Upon interrogation, the kidnappers named the ring leader who was said to be well connected in the military, leading to the arrest of the six soldiers. Two of the arrested members of the gang are Gidi (or Jide) a Nigerian and Kwame Offei, a Ghanaian. DAILY GUIDE further gathered that following the successful transfer of the case to the police commander, the regional police, after due interrogations between October and December last year, located and arrested the leader of the gang, also a Ghanaian. The case however took a bizarre twist when on December 7, 2009 the military hierarchy reportedly ordered the arrest of the soldiers, allegedly for embarking on an operation without authority. All the six soldiers have since been held in detention, three each in the Recce and 64 Regiment guardrooms, places described by some soldiers as degrading. An officer, who spoke to DAILY GUIDE on condition of anonymity, described the cells as open-air guardrooms with graveled floors. Asked how they had been sleeping on such graveled floors, the source said they stand or squat all night all day. What the source finds deplorable is the fact that five weeks down the line, no charges have been preferred against them. Unconfirmed reports however say the suspected kidnappers are highly connected with some top gurus in the military, hence the hard stance on the matter. As at press time yesterday, police sources confirmed that the case was indeed handed over to them, and that the matter had been transferred to the CID Headquarters “due to its complex nature”. According to the source, the complexity arises from whether to categorize the case as that of kidnapping or armed robbery. By Bennett Akuaku

Arrest and detention of four soldiers: Wives demand answers from AG & BNI

Wives of the four soldiers of the 64 Infantry Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) who were recently arrested by the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) in collaboration with the Defence Intelligence (DI) of the Ghana Armed Forces are up in arms against the Director of the BNI and the Attorney-General, challenging the basis for the ‘unlawful’ detention of their spouses.

The better halves of the four detained soldiers in a suit filed at the Human Rights Division of the High Court in Accra, challenged the A-G and the BNI boss to produce "the bodies" of the said Sergeants Michael Arthur and Richard Somuah as well as Corporal Charles Ankomah and Emmanuel Antwi in court tomorrow and "state the grounds for their detention by the bureau of national investigations without recourse to their constitutional rights under the 1992 constitution’’.

Counsel for the embattled soldiers, Joe Aboagye Debrah, who confirmed these recent developments to The New Crusading Guide, stated that what the BNI had done was of no consequence in law, adding that ‘You may be holding them for subversion or murder but you must still bring them to a court of competent jurisdiction and present your case for the court to determine.’

Madam Felicity Arthur on behalf of her husband and wives of the other soldiers, upon advice of her counsel stated in an affidavit that ‘’under Ghana’s 1992 constitution, more particularly Article 33 thereof and pursuant to Habeas Corpus Act, 1964 (act 244),the applicants herein now detained at an undisclosed location can and do hereby apply for an order of Habeas Corpus directed against the Director of the Bureau of National Investigation and the Attorney General to produce the soldiers and state the reason for their detention without authority or sanction from any court of competent jurisdiction.In her statement of affirmation, Madam Arthur said that “the continued incarceration and detention of our spouses by the bureau of national investigations and/or any other state institution or body without recourse to law is a breach of the 1992 constitution, more particularly articles 12 and 14 thereof’’.

Readers will recall that the Tuesday, November 24, 2009 edition of The New Crusading Guide in a story headline: “Arrest & detention of four soldiers… A case of alleged subversion or murder?’’ confirmed the arrest and incarceration of the four soldiers for their alleged role in the 2007 murder of Mr. Rokko Frempong, a former Deputy Managing Director of Ghana Commercial Bank.

Story by Samuel Frempong/ The New Crusading Guide Newspaper

National Security Adviser denies meeting JJ

National Security Adviser, Brigadier General (retd) Joseph Nunoo-Mensah, has rebutted a media report that his outfit held a meeting with some security heads and former president Jerry John Rawlings on the murder of the former Deputy Managing Director of the Ghana Commercial Bank, Roko Frimpong.

The Today newspaper alleged in its Monday, November 30 2009 edition that the former president and the security capos held a three-hour meeting on Thursday, November 26 2009 at the Jubilee House (presidential palace) to deliberate on the murder of Mr Frimpong and possibly elicit from the four ex-commandos arrested in connection with the act what might have motivated their action.

However, a statement issued by the Ministry of Information in Accra on Tuesday stated that neither Brigadier General Nunoo-Mensah nor the National Security Coordinator Colonel (retd) Larry Gbevlo-Lartey had ever been invited by the former President to any meeting to discuss the Roko Frimpong murder. “No security meeting has ever been held at the Jubilee House, part of which now houses the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” it said.

The government says it would petition the National Mediation Commission about the publication.The statement cautioned the media against deliberately peddling falsehood with the intention to frame up people, especially government officials.“To make up a story knowing very well that there’s no iota of truth in it, and presenting it to the public in the manner that the tabloid did, cannot be said to be good journalistic practice.”

According to the statement, the government also challenged the new National Media Commission (NMC) to be effective in performing its constitutional role by ensuring that the media work to enhance the country’s development “rather than fan trouble through deliberate falsehood”.“This definitely is a matter that government will be forwarding to the NMC for action, but we do not think that our newspapers and other media outlets should be engaging in this kind of journalism,” the statement said.

Later in an interview on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, a Deputy Minister for Information, James Agyenim-Boateng, reiterated that there is “absolutely no truth in what the newspaper did”.

Nevertheless, the Editor of the Today newspaper, Richmond Keelson, insisted the story was accurate, “I still stand by” it.

He maintained that stating the time, date and venue of the said meeting gives credence to the story, adding he would not sit somewhere and cook a story.

Mr Keelson noted that the government is not happy with the publication because of “serious backlash” it received.He also welcomed the decision by the government to drag the paper to the NMC, “[I am] not the least worried or scared”.

Story by Isaac Essel/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

Military Commander denies parading suspects ‘nude’

The Commander of the military force helping to keep the peace in Bawku, Capt. Frank Abrokwa, has denied stripping any suspects naked. The Commander of the military force helping to keep the peace in Bawku, Capt. Frank Abrokwa, has denied stripping any suspects naked, contrary to claims he and his men paraded a suspect naked through the town on Wednesday. The suspect was picked up by military officers along with a second person, after a shooting incident Wednesday morning and handed over to the police. The MP for the area, Adamu Sakande and Salifu Bashiru, South Katinga assemblyman have told Citi FM the suspects were stripped naked before being paraded through town on the way to the police station. However, the military commander told Joy News the allegations were false, explaining that the suspect who did the shooting was half naked on his arrest. According to Captain Frank Abrokwa, the suspect resisted arrest as the soldiers attempted to get him to lead them to the source of the gun he wielded. Early reports suggested he had attempted to shoot at two farmers who were on their way to harvest their sweet potatoes and upon missing them, called in the second suspect to come pick him up on a motorbike. Captain Frank Abrokwa said as the suspect resisted arrest, his trousers got torn in the ensuing struggle with the soldiers, and since the area of his arrest was not motorable, the soldiers had no choice but to walk him through town to the police station. Story by Isaac Yeboah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

Stripping suspects naked is more acceptable than killing - Wayongo

Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Wayongo If a soldier maltreats somebody in Accra, fine, we will have all the reasons to make all the noise but Bawku is a conflict area and they are trying to find ways of solving the problem… I think that some of these things are done to serve as a deterrent so that others will not repeat the same thing. Mark Wayongo The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Wayongo says the stripping of some suspects naked publicly in Bawku is more acceptable than killing innocent citizens which those suspects were believed to be bent on doing. “The people who were alleged to have been put through that treatment were going to shoot at people who had gone to harvest their potatoes and I think that that treatment was better than if they had killed those people,” he said. Video footage from the volatile town depicts soldiers drilling two young men suspected to have engaged in unprovoked shooting in the Natinga area in Bawku, exacerbating the tension there. They were paraded naked in the streets and in some scenes the muzzle of a gun can be seen being pushed into the mouth of one of them. The video together with earlier reports of the incident – denied by the military high command in Bawku – has caused some public outrage. But Mr Wayongo, while regretting the conduct of the soldiers, believes the complaints are unjustified, given that the people of Bawku live under abnormal circumstances and conditions. Conflict situation justifies maltreatment? One of the victims of the naked parade in Bawku “If a soldier maltreats somebody in Accra, fine, we will have all the reasons to make all the noise but Bawku is a conflict area and they are trying to find ways of solving the problem… I think that some of these things are done to serve as a deterrent so that others will not repeat the same thing,” he told Peace FM’s Kwami Sefa-Kayi. The regional minister who himself wascaught in a cross-fire in Bawku recentlyand had to fall flat on his belly to dodge bullets urged restraint, warning that over criticizing the soldiers could demoralize them. “Let us not over-flog the issue, we don’t have to make the soldiers feel unwanted in Bawku, we don’t need to do things that will let them take a back seat. If the soldiers are disillusioned, if we discourage them operating in the area they will just fold their arms and sit down and we will have serious consequences.” A protracted chieftaincy dispute between Kussasis and Mamprusis has retained Bawku as one of the most volatile parts of the country. The conflict has defied efforts by successive governments to find a solution to theintermittent resurgence in violence which has claimed lives and property and also exacted a heavy toll on both the locals and people responsible for maintaining the peace. The security personnel themselves have on some occasions been accused of taking sides with politicians accusing each other of fanning the conflict for purposes of political expediency. Play the video footage here and see the treatment meted to the suspects in Bawku Story by Malik Abass Daabu/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

Military ordered to produce "killer" of Issah Mobilla

An Accra Fast Track High court Thursday ordered the Military High Command to expedite action for the arrest of Private Seth Goka, one of the army officers alleged to have played a role in the murder of the Northern Regional Chairman of the Convention People's Party (CPP), Alhaji Issah Mohammed, aka Issah Mobilla, for prosecution. The case has been adjourned until December 2, 2009 by Justice Senyo Dzamefe to enable the Commanding Officer of the Military work expeditiously to produce Private Seth Goka. He would be facing trial with two other colleagues - Yaw Appiah and Private Eric Modzaka. The three accused persons have been charged for the murder of Issah Mobilla who sustained military wounds when transferred from the police cells to Kamina Military Barracks in Tamale under their custody. The Prosecutor, Mrs. Gertrude Aikins, told the court that Alhaji Issah Mohammed handed himself to the police on 9th December 2004 after he was declared wanted for allegedly supplying the youth in Tamale with guns to foment trouble. According to the prosecutor, Alhaji Mobilla died three hours after he was handed over to the accused persons who were on duty that day. Mrs. Aikins further told the court that during the cause of investigations a report received from a Chief Pathologist revealed that the deceased died from a multiple wounds. Story by Alfred Frempong

CHRAJ chides gov’t for pampering military

Emile Short The Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has lambasted government over its failure to condemn in no uncertain terms alleged human rights abuses by the military. Commissioner Emile Short told Joy News the government must be bold enough to whip the military in line when they go overboard. His concerns come amidst reports of grievous human rights abuses by the military which led to the manhandling and stripping of two men naked in Bawku for allegedly shooting indiscriminately into the air. Not long after the Bawku encounter, the military and some police men were said to have gang raped two women in Nalerigu in Tamale, where they were detailed to maintain law and order after some residents went on rampage over the murder of one of a colleague. The incidents, especially the second, provoked a huge public outcry against the military. Upper East Regional Minister Mark Wayongo believes the continued vilification of the military could demoralize them which might engender ‘blood bath’ in the region. The vice president John Mahama in his goodwill message to the Moslems on the occasion of the Eid-ul Ad-har said the two incidents though regrettable must not be used to tarnish the hard won reputation of the military. He opined the behavior of some of the military must be borne out of frustration after what appears to be an endless effort to bring peace to Bawku. “The soldiers too have families and they have come to stay there interminably for years trying to resolve the conflict. Sometimes the frustration gets to them and they occasionally might behave out of context,” he said. He said investigations have begun, but warned the perpetrators of that crime to desist from acts that will defame the military. But CHRAJ appears not impressed with government’s reaction. Emile Short said government may appear to be condoning the embarrassing acts if it fails to condemn out rightly the reported cases of human rights abuses. “I think they need to be encouraged. They need to be given all the support, both logistics as well and moral encouragement that they need. But at the same time when they go overboard, it is incumbent on all of us in the public office to be able to draw their attention to those excesses and to ensure that they don’t happen. Otherwise it may appear to be condoning them. And I think that is wrong.” Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

GHANA: Veep Breaks Silence

• 
  
  

Veep John Mahama

WHAT CREDIBILITY DOES THE ARMY HAVE?

'You never know what you have until you lose it" - By: GbogboStone More Quotes | Submit a Quote

NEW: Ghana Tourist Villas offers an unforgettable holiday and business experience in Accra.

Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Friday described the military brutality meted out to some civilians in conflict- stricken Bawku as unfortunate and regrettable.

He stressed that it was an act that needed to be condemned.

Mr Mahama made the observation when he joined Muslims at the Independence Square in Accra to mark this year's Eid-Ul- Adha festival.

He however cautioned that the isolated case of human right abuse should not be used as a general measure to mar the reputation of the highly disciplined Ghana Armed Forces.

“We all know we have a much disciplined military. They have received awards on peacekeeping and the isolated incidence should not be used to characterise Ghana's army,” he said.

Mr Mahama gave the assurance that perpetrators of the conflict would be brought to justice whilst those who smuggled ammunitions to the area would be apprehended.

Speaking on the insecurity situation in Bawku and surrounding areas, Mr Mahama called on Muslims in the area to use the festival to reflect on how they could co-exist in peace and security.

He expressed worry that the town, which was once noted for its economic activity in the North, is now unable to contribute towards national development owing to the conflict.

“Bawku is strategically located in the North-Eastern corner of the country, which once served as a commercial centre. However because of the insecurity, teachers, nurses, doctors and others are leaving the place,” he said.

Mr Mahama called on the Muslim community to take drastic steps to improve the literacy level among them.

He said education was one of the effective tools the country could use to reduce poverty and attain its socio-economic development agenda.

Mr Mahama noted that most developed countries attained higher economic status because they prioritised education.

He expressed dissatisfaction that Ghana was still struggling with “some 70 per cent literacy rate, with the Muslim communities and especially the Northern part of the country recording as low as 50 per cent”.

“Illiteracy is what is preventing us from achieving the quality of life we want,” he said.

He advised the Muslim youths to carry on the merrymaking activities in a more disciplined and relaxed manner to promote peace and security.

Mr Mahama lauded the peaceful co-existence among the various religious groups and stressed that it should not be taken for granted.

Mr Mahama said religion must unite the people and not separate them.

In a sermon, Chief Imam Sheikh Osman Nuhu Shaributu, said Eid-Ul-Adha was a day of sacrifice for Muslims and urged the worshippers to submit to the will of their creator, Allah.

He called on adherents to sacrifice for the poor and needy in order to please Allah.

Sheikh Shaributu said there was the need to empower the youth in moral uprightness to discourage them from engaging in the cyber crime, popularly known as 'Sakawa.'

He called on the worshippers to live with each other in peace and security in order for the country to attain its socio-economic agenda.

Eid al-Adha is the second of the two Eid festivals celebrated by Muslims across the world and usually takes place a day after the pilgrims conducting the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, descend from Mount Arafat.

GNA

Our soldiers must not be perceived as brutish – Veep

Vice President John Dramani Mahama (behind) lectern addressing Muslims at the Independence Square Vice President John Dramani Mahama says recent reports of civilian humiliation in Bawku and Nalerigu must not stoke the perception that the military is brutish. Mr Mahama’s comments follows the huge public outcry that greeted the alleged stripping naked of two suspected gunmen in Bawku and the gang-raping of a 19-year-old apprentice in Nalerigu by soldiers deployed there to maintain peace. Mr Mahama described the two incidents as regrettable but insisted they were “isolated” and must not be used to soil the reputation of the military the country has built for itself. The vice president said this when he addressed an assembly of Muslims at this year’s Eid ul Adha special prayers at the Independence Square in Accra. He explained that sometimes “the frustration [of the soldiers] gets to them” resulting in such incidents, but hinted that the government would investigate the reports and bring to book those found culpable of the offenses. The vice president also used the occasion to urge the people of Bawku to use the occasion of the celebration of the Eid ul Adha festival to reflect on the sporadic mayhem that has characterized the town over the years. He said that violence in the northern Ghana town has stalled efforts to develop the area and has deprived the people of essential services – health, educational among others. Mr Mahama said the Muslim community in the area “must ask themselves” if indeed “the Bawku they want” is what they have now, suggesting that although government would always try to restore peace, the people themselves must see external help as a mere adjunct to their own efforts. Vice President John Mahama also bemoaned the smuggling of arms and ammunition into the area and urged the smugglers to desist from such acts which he said threaten peace and security in the area. He also urged more focus, in the Muslim community, on education, stressing, education is the key to growth and success as a country. Mr Mahama said the Muslim community must “prioritise education” as government works to secure sustainable growth and development for the country. The Chief Imam Sheikh Osman Nuru Sharubutu used the occasion to thank the government for ensuring that this year’s Hajj was a success. The Eid-ul Adha celebration is a major festival in the Islamic calendar and remembers the prophet Ibrahim's (Abraham’s) willingness to sacrifice his son when God ordered him to do so. Three white rams and a bull were slaughtered to symbolise prophet Ibraham’s special sacrifice. Several hundreds of Muslims swarmed the Independence Square to mark the occasion. Perhaps the most conspicuous personality there was former vice president Alhaji Aliu Mahama who was there to grace the occasion. Alhaji Mahama exchanged pleasantries with other officials there. Story by Fiifi Koomson/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

Security men accused of rape in Nalerigu

Residents of Nalerigu in the Northern Region have accused soldiers of raping at least three women in the town.

They say security men also brutalized people and destroyed property during a raid, which happened on Tuesday.

The security officers are said to have embarked on an operation to restore calm after some people went on the rampage to demand justice over the murder of former People’s National Congress parliamentary candidate, Moses Alando Banaba.

Mr Banaba was shot dead whilst returning from work earlier this month. Residents say the security agencies manhandled residents in the name of peacekeeping. A victim of the alleged harassment told Joy News on Wednesday the security officials have for some days now been blaring sirens to urge them to “rush into [their] rooms,” a situation he claims residents have become used to.

“They come, even if your house is locked, they’ll knock [and] when you open they’ll come in and beat you” the victim said.“They raped about three girls in our house,” another resident told Joy News’ Sammy Darko.The Northern Regional operational commander has however denied the allegations.ASP Bismark Achaab tells Joy News the security forces have had to take drastic measures to stamp out lawlessness in Nalerigu.

The military officials however indicated that some persons who allegedly burned a house in the town have been arrested.

Source: Myjoyonline.com/Ghana