BY Grace Zigah
The Overlord of the Mamprugu Traditional Area, the Nayiri Naa Bohugu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga IINayiri Naa Bohugu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga II, finds himself at the center of mounting tensions following the controversial Bawku chieftaincy mediation report presented by Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
Reports from Nalerigu indicate that sections of the Mamprusi youth have resorted to violent action, accusing an elder close to the Nayiri of allegedly betraying the community by colluding with government in relation to the mediation process.
Eyewitness accounts confirm that two houses belonging to the elder were set ablaze, prompting immediate concern for public safety.
The violence erupted after a meeting at the Nayiri’s palace, which local sources say further inflamed feelings of anger and perceived betrayal among youth factions in the community.
Threats of additional attacks on properties and residents have been reported, highlighting the fragile state of security in the regional capital.
In response to the escalating violence, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) deployed reinforcement teams and armoured vehicles to Nalerigu and surrounding communities.
A statement from the North East Regional Police Headquarters, signed by Deputy Superintendent of Police Robert Anbik Anmain, emphasized that the deployments aim to restore order, enforce the government-imposed curfew, and protect lives and property.
The Police have also intensified highway patrols to safeguard commuters and prevent spillover of unrest into neighbouring areas. Investigations into the arson attacks are ongoing, and perpetrators are expected to face prosecution.
The curfew, enacted through an Executive Instrument by the Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, restricts movement in Nalerigu and its environs from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. daily.
Additional restrictions include a ban on carrying arms or offensive weapons, prohibition on the movement of motorbikes, a ban on wearing smocks in public, and a prohibition on selling fuel in containers.
The authorities have also forbidden unlawful assemblies, urging residents to comply fully with the directives to ensure safety during this tense period.
The unrest in Nalerigu comes on the heels of the December 16, 2025, presentation of the Bawku mediation report to President John Dramani Mahama by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
While the National Democratic Congress government has publicly endorsed the report and affirmed the legal recognition of Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II as the lawful Bawku Naba, the Nayiri has expressed reservations, describing the mediation process as procedurally flawed and unilaterally imposed.
The Nayiri’s rejection has resonated among some youth groups, leading to the current violent backlash.
The Bawku chieftaincy dispute, rooted in decades-long tensions between the Mamprusi and Kusasi communities, has historically flared into cycles of violence whenever mediation or governmental interventions are perceived as biased.
The recent incidents in Nalerigu underscore the difficulty of implementing reconciliation measures without broad-based community engagement and transparent processes.
