The Mamprusi Traditional Council has strongly criticized the government for imposing a curfew on Nalerigu and its surrounding areas, calling the decision arbitrary, unjustified, and disrespectful to the authority of the Nayiri. In a statement issued on Monday, July 28, the Nayiri Palace expressed deep displeasure with the curfew that took effect on July 27, 2025. The order restricts movement daily from 2:00 PM to 6:00 AM and was implemented following the killing of two students at Nalerigu Senior High School by unidentified gunmen on Saturday, July 26.
According to the Palace, this directive was imposed without prior consultation, even though the town remains calm and free from immediate conflict. “The Nayiri Palace has taken grave notice of a communiqué circulating in the public domain announcing the imposition of a curfew. While Mamprugu remains firmly committed to constitutional rule, the Palace expresses its deep displeasure and dismay at the arbitrary and unjustified manner in which this curfew has been imposed,” the statement read.
Although authorities have not confirmed the motive behind the killings, local speculation has linked the incident to the ongoing Bawku conflict. However, the Mamprusi Traditional Council has rejected any connection between the two, insisting that Nalerigu should not be grouped with areas experiencing unrest.
“It is troubling that the government continues to pursue a misguided policy of equating the longstanding conflict in the Bawku Traditional Area with the peace and stability that exists in Mamprugu, particularly in Walewale and now Nalerigu,” the statement added.
The Council described the government’s rationale, that the curfew would enable the safe evacuation of students, as “unfortunate and unconvincing,” warning that such reactionary measures do little to foster lasting peace.
Asserting that traditional authority had been undermined, the Council issued three key demands to the government:
An immediate lifting of the curfew on Nalerigu and its environs.
A full and transparent investigation into the murder of the students, with the perpetrators brought to justice.
An unqualified apology to the Nayiri and the people of Mamprugu for bypassing the Palace in such a critical security decision.
The statement concluded with a firm reminder that peace in Mamprugu must be preserved through mutual respect and collaboration, not through unilateral actions made without local engagement.
Source: Myjoyonline
