Security Analyst, Mumuni Muftaw, has intimated that the Dakpema shooting incident which took place in the early hours of Monday, March 7, 2022 could have been prevented.
Speaking on the incident, the security analyst indicated that the shooting was preventable because the signs were clear in this situation and have been obvious for a long time.
Mr. Muftaw stated that although there were signs, authorities and the traditional leadership are not very clear in terms of the motivation for this particular attack.
“The shooting that took place could have been prevented. It is a situation that shouldn’t have taken place at all. The signs have always been clear for a very long time for this kind of thing to happen. Of course, it’s still sketchy what might have motivated this.”
Mumuni Muftaw
The Security Analyst averred that when the chieftancy issues started off, people expected that something should have been done about it. He intimated that the happenings is as a result of failure of communication.
“Last year, the issue attracted attention but no engagement was seen taking place.”
Mumuni Muftaw
According to him, authorities have been too late in terms of actions to resolve the ongoing chieftaincy impasse. He stated that the authorities failed in terms of diplomacy and in engaging the leaders involved as stakeholders.
Communication failure in resolving dispute
Mumuni Muftaw mentioned that the leaders in this situation failed in terms of the manner they needed to communicate to prevent this from escalating to a different level resulting in the attack.
“Conflict management will place emphasis on conflict communication because the kind of language employed in conflict management influences the behavior. This comes about due to the actors involved.”
Mumuni Muftaw
Mumuni Muftaw posited that despite the failure to resolve the dispute, it’s a good step that the Police are involved in dealing with the matter. He indicated that the new step presents a new opportunity to appropriately resolve the impasse and find ways to prevent it from happening again.
The Security Analyst disclosed that if the situation is to be analyzed in terms of what happened, it shows a contestation over leadership and of territorial control.
“You would hear that the Dakpema is the Chief Priest of Tamale, whiles the Yaa Naa is also considered as the Chief Priest of Tamale.”
Mumuni Muftaw
According to Mumuni Muftaw, the Dakpema chief has built some significant influence in the manner that projects him directly and indirectly as the overlord. And this obviously, according to him, hasn’t gone down well with the Dagbon Yaa Naa.
Dakpema Palace shooting incident
A group of unknown gunmen attacked the Dakpema Palace in Tamale in the early hours of Monday March 7, 2022. Traditional authorities in the Palace reported that two persons suffered gunshot injuries during the attack.
The Police are yet to establish the cause of the attack, however, reports have it that the attack may be linked to the recent directive by the Overlord of Dagbon Yaa Naa Abubakar Mahama II that Dakpema Fuseini Bawa must stop playing talking drums in his palace.
Meanwhile, the Police are on a manhunt for some 15 unidentified gunmen who allegedly attacked the Dakpema palace, according to the northern regional crime officer Superintendent Bernard Baba Ananga.
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