General News of Wednesday, 13 August 2003

Source: Chronicle

Andanis and Abudus stockpile ammunition?

Chronicle's intelligence reports indicate that as late as 19 June 2003, there were credible reports from National Security to the President and the Vice President over the stockpiling of ammunition by the Abudu gate in readiness for counter attacks from the Andanis in the Dagbon chieftaincy fracas.

On live ammunition and an SMG were retrieved from one of them factions on the mornings of 15 June. But the National Security Coordinator, Francis Poku, confirming the story told the "Chronicle" on Tuesday that the situation was spotted at the early stages and quickly brought under control adding that the state security apparatus remains vigilant in the area.

The reports forwarded to President John Kufuor and Vice President Aliu Mahama has raised flags on the volatile security situation in Dagbon with pointers to a possible renewed outbreak of civil was in the area.

Titled "Situation Reports" the document spoke about alleged stockpiling of arms and ammunition at Yendi and the that Abudu Warriors and their supporters have concealed weapons at vantage points in readiness to counter an attack from the Andanis.

The gentle National Security capo, noted that: "We as Ghanaians must concentrate on what unites us as a people rather than what divides us and nothings should be done to inflame passions in the Dagbon conflict. This report comes after months of consistent claims by government official that calm has been restored to the Dgbon traditional area and that wounds of the people following the gruesome assassination of the late Ya Na Andani have healed.

The National Security boss commented that "Arms and ammunition are increasingly being stockpiled in Yendi and search operations should be conducted to retrieve all illegal weapons." In another development, the report stated that a delegation of Abudus, Andanis and Kuga-Na who traveled to Kumasi to meet the committee of eminent chiefs bokering peace in Dagbon returned to Yendi on 15 June 2003 after negotiations ended in a stalemate.