4 Karaga NPP leaders arrested

The police in the Northern Region have arrested the Karaga Constituency Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Tahidu Zakari, and three others for their alleged involvement in disturbances at Karaga last Monday.

The three other suspects are Baba Ali Osman, Mohammed Alhassan and Abdulai Ziblim.

The suspects were identified by the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Karaga, Mr Alhassan Yabdow, as part of those who took part in the attacks that led to the closure of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) offices at Karaga, the district capital.

The arrest

The Spokesperson for the Northern Regional Police Command, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Mr Mohammed Tanko Yusif, who confirmed the arrest of the constituency chairman and the three other suspects, said

they were arrested on their way from Tamale to Karaga last Friday evening.

He said the chairman had earlier refused to honour an invitation from the Northern Regional Police Command to assist in police investigations.

ASP Tanko stated that the police were conducting further investigations into the matter for subsequent prosecution.

Recall

Some angry youth of the NPP, believed to be supporters of the constituency chairman, last Monday afternoon attacked and locked up the YEA offices over the appointment of some youth into the security module of the agency.

The irate youth who were angered by the arrest of two of their friends vandalised a military vehicle and later attacked the police station at Karaga.

They freed their members and also set on fire a motorbike belonging to the YEA coordinator.

The Karaga Constituency executive members of the NPP have been sharply divided, while tension has been mounting since the DCE for the area took office.

The DCE, who was the constituency secretary and the YEA coordinator, Mohammed Baba, who is also the constituency youth organiser, have been accused by the constituency chairman and the other executive members of hijacking the party in the area and taking decisions without deliberations and consultations.

Early last month, supporters of the chairman invaded the district assembly premises and locked up the DCE’s office,

following allegations that he was engaged in divide and rule tactics.

Source: Graphic