The National Executives of the Fulbe community in Ghana, led by its General Secretary, Yakubu Musah Barry, have appealed to the chiefs and people of the Savannah Region to emulate and demonstrate the peaceful nature of their kinsman, President John Mahama, and to also heed the President’s peace advocacy in his home region.
“Mr Minister, you know we’ve been communicating since the Gbeniyiri’s incident and we saw how tall you stood and not that alone, President John Mahama, since becoming the president, all his advocacy is about peace and how to peacefully co-exist together. So, we have to demonstrate this in his home region. Peace must start from here,” Yakubu Barry insisted.
The General Secretary noted that he toured the region two months ago to educate members of the community on the need to coexist peacefully with their neighbours and how to stay away from crime.
“I came round the region two months ago and went round to educate my people for the need to co-exist peacefully with their neighbour, and how to do away with crime, but I think the current crisis is unfortunate,” he indicated.
Mr Barry made this known in an address to the media at Damongo Junction, together with some of their national executives.
According to him, foodstuffs originally meant for Fulbes serving prison sentences were diverted to take care of the displaced, many of whom have been displaced and are currently sleeping in the open.
Background to the Attacks
On Sunday, March 8, some alleged armed robbers, comprising eight men and a lady, invaded the Damongo Junction area around 7 p.m., robbed and killed a mobile money vendor and a passerby. In reaction, some indigenes of the town attacked and burned down selected Fulani houses and properties.
The Savannah Regional Office of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) earlier visited the displaced with a number of bags of rice, oil, and plastic containers, among other items.
They also provided makeshift shelters to temporarily house those affected.
“It is nothing but sad that an armed robbery incident would degenerate into some kind of communal attacks on our Fulbe brothers and sisters here, because they (residents) claimed that the supposed armed robbers were Fulbe, though not established for that matter,” said Zackaria Mahama, a spokesperson for the community.
He questioned why people would assume others’ identities for a crime, stating, “Because if that is done in the reverse, they wouldn’t be happy, so we should not take the law into our hands. As you can see, so far, we have counted 27 to 30 houses burnt with their foodstuff.”
Extent of Damage
The majority of the victims escaped to Yapei, a nearby town, leaving behind their properties, including foodstuff, houses, tricycles, and personal belongings, in the fire that was set by some indigenes in reaction to the robbery, similar to the Gbeniyiri incident.
No human casualty has, however, been recorded in the attacks.
Police Arrest Suspects
In a related development, the police on Thursday, March 12, arrested and detained three suspects at the Buipe Police Station in connection with the Damongo Junction robbery.
There are two males and a female, all known indigenes of the community.
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