Tatale (N/R), July 9, GNA - The chiefs and people of Bikunjib and Nkanlangbani in the Zabzugu-Tatale District of Northern Region who have been at each others throats for sometime now over farm lands and dispute as to which of the two sides should pacify the deity "monchankpini", have smoke peace pipe.

The initiative for the reconciliation was made known when the people of Nkanlangbani approached the Paramount Chief of Tatale Traditional Area, Obore Gariba Yankosor, for them to reconcile with the people of Bikunjib for peace and unity among the two communities. The Paramount Chief announced this in his palace at Tatale when the Northern Regional Minister, Mr Moses Bukari Mabengba, and members of the Zabzugu/Tatale District Security Committee met the chiefs and people of Bikunjib and Nkanlangbani, who are of the Basare and Konkomba ethnic groups, to witness the reconciliation ceremony. Chief Obore Gariba indicated that the conflict had existed since the reign of late Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II, who made all efforts to settle it until he passed away.

He stated that the Zabz ugu/Tatale District Security Committee had also made efforts towards settlement of the case. The paramount chief commended the Northern Regional Minister, Mr Moses Bukari Mabengba, for meeting the two Communities two weeks ago in Zabzugu for them to fix a date for the reconciliation ceremony. He said the Northern Regional Minister did not discriminate among the various ethnic groups, adding that this made him a Minister who had the interest of everybody in the Region at heart. On behalf of the two Communities, the Paramount Chief assured the Regional Minister that having initiated the reconciliation process by themselves, the communities involved had buried their differences forever. On his part, Mr Mabengba told the people of the area that their greatest enemy was the high illiteracy rate that continued to prevail in the local communities, and urged them to ensure that they sent their children to school. Mr Mabengba stated that in any conflict situation, reconciliation can only come about if the two parties involved demonstrate the willingness to smoke the peace pipe. "Without such an approach it will be difficult for any person or institution from outside to settle conflicts." He indicated that the petition by the people of the area to the Government for the creation of a separate district would only be considered if they allowed peace to prevail. He urged them to educate themselves about the 2010 Population and Housing Census so that every person in the area would be enumerated. As a sign of true reconciliation, members of the two communities ate the meat of a white ram and a cock that had been slaughtered for sacrifice, and drank pots of 'pito' together.