As communal tensions rage in the Yunyoo/Nasuani District of the North East Region, the Konkomba Youth Association (KoYA) has urged all sides to avoid further escalation.
The call comes following alleged growing tensions between some Konkombas and Bimoabas in certain communities in the district.
The tensions have been related to disputes over land, chieftaincy, ethnic supremacy, and witchcraft allegations.
The traditional leadership of the district called for security reinforcement after claiming to have heard some communities mobilising resources to purchase weapons to attack one another after the harvest season.
According to the chiefs, communal tensions are uncommon in the district. The two tribes in the area have fought about four times, the latest being in 2015.
The communities where these alleged tensions are have been given as; Nasuan, Damanko-Daan-ting, Jimbale, Yunyoo, Mozio, Teema, Kofuri, Namgbam, Tun-Komie, Jinwule, and Naagu, all related to allegations of witchcraft.
The others reportedly in connection with land and chieftaincy disagreements include; Bunbuna, Wawa, Saagban, Piibuun, Kperikpa-bini, and Gbankurugu.
In a statement, the Konkomba Youth Association in the Yunyoo/Nasuan District has called for restraint and social cohesion.
The statement signed by the Association’s President in the area, Charles Nigram noted that, “the call has become very necessary and pivotal to promoting peace, togetherness, harmony, and a stable society in the Yunyoo/Nasuan district”.
The statement further stated, “KoYA would like to appeal to all our countrymen: the konkombas and their neighboring tribes in the Yunyoo/Nasuan district and another adjoining district not to involve ourselves in acts that will disrupt the peace we are currently enjoying”.
“Peace is an expensive commodity to restore once broken and we should be guided by the history of insecurities and their catastrophic effects on us as a people in 1983, 2007, 2012, and 2015”, the statement added.
The statement ends by encouraging “all citizens to inform, monitor, and report any move and activity of any suspected individual or group of individuals to the Police, traditional rulers, and KoYA executives for proper action or actions to be taken against such persons”.
In a related development, some chiefs in the district have held a community engagement to reinforce and promote the call for peace and harmony.
The engagement which was held successfully on Saturday, November 26, at Teema, was attended by various stakeholders, including the District Chief Executive, Heads of the district security services, Executives of KoYA, and other community youth groups.
