Tamale, Oct. 28, GNA - Mr. Martin Amidu, the Minister of the Interior, has assured the people of the Northern Region about his readiness to address the security challenges affecting the area. These include the Bunkpurugu conflict, issues surrounding Johnson Kombian, a hardened criminal who escaped from prison and the floods. He said the Region had been saddled with many security challenges and if not properly addressed, it could tarnish the image of the country.

Mr. Amidu said this in Tamale as part of a three-day tour of the Northern Region.

The Minister was holding a meeting with the Regional Security Committee to discuss some of the security challenges. Touching on the recent security operations in the Nakpanduri area, the minister urged the security agencies to be circumspect in their attempt to arrest the fugitive.

Mr Emmanuel Kwame Duut, the Member of Parliament for the Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo, appealed to the security agencies to be professional in their operations, adding that Wednesday's operations conducted by the police resulted in some excesses.

He said such excesses could make the government unpopular because the people of the area might think it was the government that was committing such atrocities on them.

Mr. Moses Bukari Mabengba, Northern Regional Minister, said the region was grateful to have the Minister of Interior in the region adding that his visit could help in finding solutions to the security problems affecting the area.