Ho, Aug 6, GNA- Togbega Tsedze Atakora VII, Paramount Chief of the Alavanyo Traditional Area, on Friday said the security taskforce keeping the peace in the Alavanyo and Nkonya area required a "firm mandate" to be able to deal effectively with the situation.

Togbega Atakora told a press conference in Ho that the present mandate of the security taskforce rendered it impotent in the face of the challenges it had to contend with.

''The helplessness of the taskforce became evident in the latest skirmishes, when the men had to take cover as opposing sides engaged in a gun battle.''

He said the task force came out of it hideout after the shooting had subsided and shuttled between the two warring communities.

Regarding information that could help the security forces to deal with the frequent skirmishes, Togbega Atakora said Alavanyo had provided enough information about Nkonya and that the security agencies should be able to fish for vital information concerning Alavanyo.

He denied that recent killings of two Nkonya citizens was as a result of an ambush by the people of Alavanyo and said the two were killed when the people of Alavanyo-Kpeme repulsed an attack from the Nkonyas. He said the Alavanyos have always been amenable to peace and would do so with all committees seeking to bring peace to the area.

He appealed to journalists who might report on the conflict to seek information "from the source" in order to report accurately and avoid inflaming passions.