Nearly 200 Flee Nkwanta Amid Renewed Conflict as Military and Police Patrol Abandoned Streets
Tensions Escalate as Hundreds Seek Refuge, While Military and Police Enforce Security Amid Ongoing Violence
- Around 200 people have sought refuge in the Kadjebi District, including towns such as Pampawie and Ahamansu
- This follows a resurgence of violence in Nkwanta, the capital of the Nkwanta South Municipal Assembly.
- Reports have confirmed that seven people have been killed, and eight buildings, including houses and shops, were set on fire.
Around 200 people have sought refuge in the Kadjebi District, including towns such as Pampawie and Ahamansu, following a resurgence of violence in Nkwanta, the capital of the Nkwanta South Municipal Assembly.
The nearby Kadjebi District, which borders Nkwanta, has become a refuge for those escaping the unrest. Residents of these areas have opened their homes and offered support to those fleeing the violence.
In an interview, Agnes Afua Obour, a linguist and community leader in Pampawie, explained, “Our people, distressed by the situation, have reached out for assistance to return home. We sent funds to help some of them, and many arrived late on Friday.”
Related: Renewed Conflict in Nkwanta Claims Three Lives in Oti Region
Obour highlighted the seriousness of the crisis in Nkwanta, calling for collaborative efforts to find a long-term solution to the violence.
Hussein Abdulai, the assemblyman for the Ahamansu Electoral Area, informed GNA that refugees began arriving in Ahamansu on Thursday, Friday, and even into Saturday. He is currently compiling a list of those fleeing Nkwanta to share in a formal report.
An anonymous eyewitness in Nkwanta described the origin of the conflict: a burial ceremony at the local cemetery was interrupted when unidentified armed assailants opened fire on the attendees. Fortunately, the body had already been burned, and the mourners were able to flee without harm.
Reports have confirmed that seven people have been killed, and eight buildings, including houses and shops, were set on fire.
The Kadjebi District Coordinating Director, Cletus Chevure, stated that he had not yet received official confirmation of the influx of refugees into the area.
Similarly, Superintendent Frank Nana Asomaning, the Kadjebi District Police Commander, mentioned that while he had no formal reports, he had heard of people fleeing Nkwanta to seek safety in nearby locations.
Nkwanta itself is eerily deserted, with military and police patrols being the only visible activity. Streets that were once lively are now quiet, broken only by the sounds of security vehicles. Military personnel, deployed in armored vehicles, have taken strategic positions throughout the town, and some are seen patrolling the streets.
While some residents welcome the arrival of the military, hoping their presence will bring an end to the violence, others remain cautious, fearing potential human rights violations.
Among the displaced, several pregnant women were seen navigating through the bushes in an attempt to escape the conflict. One, Madam Serwaa Afia Twumasi said, “I’m scared for my life and the life of my unborn child.”
The ongoing conflict in Nkwanta stems from a deep-seated dispute over land ownership involving the Akyode, Adele, and Challa ethnic groups, fueling the violence and instability in the region.
