Member of Parliament for Bawku Constituency, Ebenezer Alumire Ndebilla
The Member of Parliament for Bawku Constituency, Ebenezer Alumire Ndebilla, has called for the immediate withdrawal and replacement of the military contingent stationed in Bawku and its surrounding areas.
Addressing a press conference in Parliament on Monday, July 14, 2025, the MP accused the military of engaging in unprofessional conduct, including the deliberate desecration and demolition of a statue of the Zugran of the Kusaug Traditional Area, Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, during an escalation of the Bawku conflict on Sunday.
“Not only was the statue shot at and pulled down by the military, but it was also set ablaze by the military. What was the crime of the statue? Who was their target? Your guess is as good as mine.
“The people of Bawku have lost hope in the current military presence. We believe our overlord is not safe with this current deployment. It is pretty obvious these callous military officers were after the life of our overlord and thus cannot be the same people parading themselves as peacemakers in Bawku,” he stated.
The MP therefore called on the Ministry of Defence and National Security to take urgent steps to remove and replace the current military personnel.
“As a result, ladies and gentlemen, I call on the Ministry of Defence and National Security to act as a matter of urgency to withdraw the entire military presence from Bawku and replace them with a new contingent.
“It is our belief that the current personnel have long been tainted and corrupted and have therefore lost the moral uprightness required to provide professional security for the people of Kusaug,” he said.
“This is not a plea, ladies and gentlemen of the media, but a demand from citizens who duly pay their taxes. We demand that the commander and his men be immediately withdrawn from our community,” he continued.
The lawmaker further called for a full investigation into the recent escalation of the conflict and the alleged misconduct of the military, with a view to bringing the responsible officers to justice.
“Yesterday’s actions must be thoroughly investigated, and the officers who destroyed the statue of the overlord identified and punished for their unprofessional and barbaric acts.
“We also demand the immediate reconstruction of the statue of the Zugran,” the MP added.
The latest incident occurred on Saturday, July 13, 2025, when violence erupted in Bawku.
According to reports, unknown assailants, believed to be Kusasi fighters, attacked a vehicle escorted by military personnel, injuring at least one soldier.
In retaliation, the military allegedly destroyed the culturally significant statue of Zugraan Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, the overlord of the Kusaug Traditional Area, and reportedly brutalised civilians.
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