Bimbilla Victims Buried

Two of the five victims who were killed during the raid at the palace of the Paramount Chief of the Bimbilla Traditional Area, have been buried. The two brothers, Alhassan Abdul-Mumin and Alhassan Tanko, were interred at the Tamale Central Cemetery at about 9:00 pm on Tuesday under heavy security. Family spokesperson, Dassana Wumbei, disclosed to DAILY GUIDE that government released the bodies of the two late last Tuesday after the pathologist had completed the post-mortem examination and presented his report to the appropriate authorities. The mortal remains of Chichagi Gbanlana Issah Ziblim and the paramount chief, Naa Dassana Abdulai Andani II, will be conveyed under heavy security guard to Bimbilla on Thursday DAILY GUIDE has learned. The two could not be buried in Tamale in view of their status as traditional rulers and are expected to be buried in accordance with the customs and traditions of the people of Nanum. Paramount Chief of the Bimbilla Traditional Area in the Nanumba North District of the Northern Region, Naa Andani Dassana Abdulai II and five of his subjects were murdered a week ago by some unidentified gunmen at his palace. Abdul Mumin Alhassan, an aide to the murdered chief; Issah Ziblim; a kingmaker and final Year student of the Islamic University College as well as two other persons were also killed. The assailants, who perpetrated the heinous crime, according to the bereaved family, were in police and military uniforms and were numbering about five � but without name tags and service numbers for easy identification. The family disclosed that the gun-wielding men arrived at the house in the company of a certain Issah Buga moments after the police on guard duties had left the palace. The palace maidens, according to Wumbei, without hesitation, directed them to the chief who had concluded his evening Islamic prayers and was relaxing at his lobby reciting versus of the Holy Quran. Moments later, gunshots were heard from where the chief was seated and indiscriminate shooting ensued, resulting in the death of Abdul Mumin Alhassan and Issah Ziblim � both aides of the murdered chief. The District Chief Executive (DCE) for the Nanumba North, Alhaji Mohammed Ibn Abbass and the District Police Commander were among 17 persons arrested in connection with the incident. They are currently in Accra assisting the National Security Secretariat in unraveling the perpetrators of the crime. The security agencies in Bimbilla have been indicted by the Minister of Defence who is acting as Interior Minister, Mark Owen Wayongo, for creating a vacuum which paved the way for the assailants to strike. Police details at the palace vacated their duty post before time when the military, who were supposed to have taken over night duties, also failed to show up. Northern Regional Minister and Chairman of the Regional Security Committee (REGSEC), Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna, maintained that the incident was a pure criminal matter. He downplayed reports trying to link the incident to reprisal attacks or renewed clashes in the area, stating that the chief was attacked unprovoked at his palace while praying. �Though there is a long-standing chieftaincy feud in the area, this was pure murder and the assailants need to pay for it,� Muniru Limuna remarked.