The Member of Parliament for Bawku Central in the Upper East region, Mahama Ayariga has condemned the alleged killing of innocent citizens by the military and vowed to pursue justice for the seven victims who are his constituents.
The Bawku Municipality has been a hotspot for a number of years now due to recurrent Chieftaincy conflicts.
The MP in a statement condemning the killings has asked government to immediately launch investigations into reports of brutalities meted out to civilians by soldiers in the constituency.
“Let me condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the infliction of mortal casualties on innocent civilians by members of the Ghana Armed Forces in Bawku today. This is totally unacceptable and I will leave no stone unturned in my fight for redress for these victims’’.
According to him, the military, as part of efforts to curtail the situation, chased anyone they saw and as people took to their heels were shot at by the officers.
The military shot at them and in the process killed six civilians,” the statement indicated.
“A little boy who also run to hide behind some grasses was also shot. The grass caught fire and burnt him to death, making the number seven.”
The Assembly member for Missiga Electoral Area is said to have been physically assaulted by the military personnel and sustained serious injuries during the shootings.
“Several unspeakable brutalities have been reported. This is totally unacceptable and I condemn the military in very strong terms,” the MP fumed.
The MP is urging his constituents to lay down weapons and work towards peace in the Constituency.
“I urge everyone to lay down their weapons and let’s work towards peace and not give
opportunities to others to inflict such inhuman treatment on us. May the souls of these innocent victims rest in peace’’ the statement concluded.
