The final funeral rites for the late Yaa-Naa Yakubu Andani II was disrupted following fresh clashes in Yendi on Friday, January 11, 2019.
About 17 people have been injured in the latest deadly clashes in Yendi linked to the Dagbon chieftaincy crisis. Two of the injured are said to be in critical conditions. That’s according to reports.
Despite the assurance from the police that they will focus on ensuring the funeral of Yaa-Naa Yakubu Andani II comes off without any more violence.
Reports indicate that several houses were burnt and gunshots were heard within the town. Many shops were also closed as some residents abandoned their homes.
Speaking in an interview with an Accra Radio, CitiFM’s Current Affairs Programme, “Eye Witness news, after the disturbances, the Northern Regional Police Public Relation Officer, Salifu Tanko, said police and military had brought the situation under control.
Acording to Salifu Tanko, the funeral was also held up after shooting started when the Chief of Sangnarigu was entering Yendi with his entourage ahead of the funeral of the late Yaa-Naa Yakubu Andani II.
While driving towards the Gbewaa palace, a section of the Youth of Yendi hauled stones at them smashing windscreens of vehicles sparking the gunfire. He said.
The Andani Royal Family of Dagbon before the funeral, raised concerns about what they considered as infractions by the Abudu Royal Family on the roadmap to peace in the traditional area.
In a statement, the Andanis claimed recent actions by the Abudus in Yendi were not only a slap on the customs and traditions of Dagbon but also the tenets as contained in the road map that was fashioned out by the Asantehene-led Committee of Eminent Chiefs.
In view of their concerns, the Andanis appealed to the Asantehene to intervene and have the concerns addressed in a manner consistent with Dagbon traditions and customs.
In line with the road map to peace, the Andanis were to begin the final funeral performance of Yaa Naa Andani II from January 4, 2019 to January 18, 2019.
Following the alleged occupation of the Mba Dugu’s residence by the Bolin Lana, the Andanis decided to shift the commencement date from January 11, 2019 to January 18, 2019.
Background
The Committee of Eminent Chiefs, on November 16, 2018, made a declaration to bring finality to the decades-old-conflict between the Abudu and the Andani Royal families in Dagbon when it presented the road map to peace in the troubled traditional area to the President at theJubilee House in Accra.
The committee was set up by former President, John Agyekum Kufuor in 2002 to find a lasting solution to the Dagbon chieftaincy dispute after the killing of Yaa Naa Yakubu Andani II at Yendi in March 2002.
The committee is made up of the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Yagbonwura, Tuntumba Boresa Sulemana Jakpa I, the Paramount Chief of the Gonja Traditional Area and the Nayiri, Na Bohugu Abdulai Mahami Sheriga, the Paramount Chief of the Mamprugu Traditional Area.
