Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, has condemned a recent action taken by military personnel in the Bawku area, following the alleged demolition of a culturally revered statue and reports of violent assaults on civilians.
In a statement released earlier today, Ayariga described the destruction of the statue of Zugran Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, the paramount chief of the Kusaug Traditional Area, as “an unacceptable act of destruction” that further inflames an already volatile security situation.
“I condemn, in no uncertain terms, the unacceptable act of destruction of the statue of the Zugran of the Kusaug Traditional Area, Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, by some military personnel”.
The incident reportedly occurred on July 13, during what residents described as a heightened military operation in parts of Bawku.
Alongside the statue’s demolition, eyewitness accounts and preliminary reports suggest that several civilians were victims of excessive force, prompting outrage and renewed calls for accountability.
“The conduct of the military amounts to brutality. It deepens mistrust and breeds resentment among our people,” Ayariga stated.
He emphasized that such actions “only serve to destabilize efforts at peace.”
The MP also weighed in on a separate gun attack by an unidentified youth on a vehicle under military escort, describing the act as “reprehensible” while urging restraint from the youth of Kusaug.
“I call on the youth to remain calm and not take the law into their own hands. Retaliation will only worsen the situation”.
He further claimed that “infiltrations into the ranks of the military by elements who seek to politicise and destabilise Bawku” are undermining national security efforts, urging the government to investigate these concerns urgently.
“The government must take urgent steps to investigate and restore peace. The people of Kusaug deserve security, justice, and respect.”….. he added.
