North East Regional Minister Ibrahim Tia has recounted his harrowing experience of being held hostage due to the Ministry for the Interior’s imposition of curfew in Walewale, a measure taken to curb escalating violence in the area.
The Ministry implemented a dusk-to-dawn curfew in Walewale and its surrounding areas in the North East Region following a wave of violent attacks and killings along the Bolgatanga-Tamale highway on February 15, 2025.
The directive, signed by Interior Minister Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, took effect on Saturday, February 15, 2025, and is enforced daily from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. The decision comes in response to a series of deadly assaults that have claimed at least nine lives, including that of a child.
Walewale’s Member of Parliament, Dr Mahama Tiah Abdul-Kabiru, has strongly criticised the curfew, calling it ill-conceived and politically motivated.
In an interview with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Eyewitness News on Citi FM on Monday February 17, Minister Tia detailed his efforts to engage local chiefs and provide support to victims of recent skirmishes.
“I went engaging the chiefs in Walewale. I went to the hospital to visit those who were in the bus that got burnt and others I heard that they were also brutalised by the security forces who were around,” he said.
Despite these efforts, the violence continued to escalate. “So I went to the hospital, greeted them, took care of their hospital bills and from there I decided to go to the next village to greet the chief and tell them that the situation is gradually getting out of hand and for that matter there is an imposition of a curfew,” Minister Tia explained.
While at the palace, the minister faced a direct attack due to the curfew. “I was in the palace when there was an attack on the palace because of the imposition of the curfew. I was held hostage until a combined team of the military and the police came and rescued me out of the palace,” he recounted.
Tragically, the chaos resulted in the loss of Minister Tia’s brother. “As a result of that, I lost my own brother in Walewale. So I am traumatised,” he revealed, highlighting the personal impact of the violence.
The recent spate of attacks, which included the burning of a bus and several casualties, has led to the imposition of a curfew in Walewale to restore order and prevent further violence. Minister Tia called on all stakeholders to support the efforts to bring peace and stability to the region.
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