According to the REGSEC, it would deploy security personnel throughout the region on a 24-hour basis and at strategic locations including the roads and communities all in an effort to fight crime.

The resolve by the REGSEC to deal decisively with criminal elements follows recent violent crimes including the murder of a policewoman, communal violence in parts of the region and snatching of vehicles in the Tamale Metropolis and Sagnarigu Municipality which have brought fear and panic among residents.

The Northern Regional Minister and Chairman of the REGSEC, Mr Salifu Saeed, who announced this at a media briefing in Tamale yesterday, said the move was meant to restore total peace in the region and to allow people to go about their duties without fear.

He called for cooperation and support from all inhabitants in the region to help achieve the goal and for peace to prevail in the region.

Reward scheme

“We encourage everyone to see personnel of the security agencies “as friends in arms” who have been deployed to ensure their safety.

We also call on the people to feel free and to provide information about criminals and persons of suspicious character to the security agencies.

“We assure you also that information given to security agencies will be handled in total confidentiality and secrecy,” the regional minister stated.

In addition, he said, “in situations where people are not too comfortable with the security personnel, they can also relay any information they have to their community leaders, chiefs, assembly members, Imams and opinion leaders and their identity will be fully protected.”

Mr Saeed said the REGSEC was instituting a reward scheme for informants who provided accurate and reliable information that led to the arrest of wrongdoers in society.

Condemnation

The REGSEC condemned last Monday’s communal violence between Fulanis and a youth group at Bagurugu, a farming community in the Karaga District which led to the burning of 65 houses and livestock and called for the perpetrators of the acts to be arrested.