Chereponi: Another person who died in the last clash

Regional News from Thursday, May 23, 2019

Source: Myjoyonline.com

2019-05-23

Police confirmed the death of another person during fresh clashes between Chokosis and Konkombas in the Northeast region.

This brings to two the number of dead in the conflict that resumed five days ago.

Police in the northern region, PRO, Yusif Tanko, who confirmed the death to Joy News said the death occurred during curfew hours in the Chokosi community.

"The police and the military team were transferred there, but the suspects escaped before the police could reach them."

About 16 people were arrested as a result of the clashes and police and military patrols intensified in the community.

A curfew from 16:00 to 06:00 is also in force in Chereponi and in the surrounding cantons with banning of the motorcycle.

The only people allowed to ride a motorcycle – the most common means of transportation in communities – are health workers and government services, teachers, women and security personnel. However, these persons must provide an identity card as proof.

This left a lot of people furious. The ban for them is not a solution to the problem, they want a reinforced police patrol and have organized a protest to express their dissatisfaction with the way the security agencies have handled the deterioration of the situation safe in the area.

In a statement read on behalf of the residents of Chereoni, Sulemana Jamilatu Frinjei called for more police barriers to be placed on the main roads.

With regard to the ban on motorcycles, she said that the inhabitants of Chereponi and surrounding areas had only a few days to live and that 'we, women and children of Chereponi, can not resist . "

A meeting of the Regional Security Council is under way to define strategies to control the situation.

Context

The armed struggle is about the possession of lands considered to be no more than two acres, but having ancestral meaning.

Chereponi is a district dominated by Konkomba. Chokosis, considered by the majority of Konkombas as settlers, constitute a minority.

The Konkombas, which constitute one of the most important ethnic groups in the north of the country, until recently, did not have a supreme chief institution.

Land ownership is a guarantee of political representation in the region. Where land belongs, chieftaincy is created, where chieftaincy exists Political representation becomes viable in institutions such as the National House of Chiefs and the influence in political parties is strengthened.

Attacks and reprisals between the Konkombas and Chokosis (also Chakosi) have continued since the colonial period.