Wa Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo IV, the overlord of Wa, has condemned the recent killings in Wa, blaming the incident on systemic failure.
The Wa Naa, following the killing of two people in Wa Monday, June 17, 2024, said in a statement Tuesday, that the incident has shattered the peace of the area, asking for all to take their security in their hands.
According to the Overlord of the Wala State and President of the Wala State Council, “while the State Security apparatus is responsible for the maintenance of peace and security, it can only succeed if we support it with relevant information.”
Naa Pelpuo IV has said the development has festered because the residents have refused to expose the perpetrators.
“The perpetrators of these heinous murders live among us. They can hardly commit these murders without being noticed by one or a number of people. The fact is, for inexplicable reasons, we shield them,” he stated.
Read his full statement below:
STATEMENT BY THE OVERLORD OF THE WALA STATE, WA NAA FUSEINI
SEIDU PELPUO IV ON THE ISSUE OF THE GRUESOME MURDERS IN THE WA MUNICIPALITY WHICH OCCURRED ON TUESDAY, 18TH JUNE, 2024.
Fellow natives of the Wala State, I greet you with a very heavy heart. Once again, the peace and tranquility of our State has been shattered by news of the gruesome murders of two of our grandfathers, fathers, brothers and husbands.
This has happened before and we raised red flags everywhere, but soon forgot of it and let down our guard. What has happened is a systemic failure. The fault is at the doorsteps of the State Security apparatus, the traditional authorities and more especially, residents in the Municipality.
While the State Security apparatus is responsible for the maintenance of peace and security, it can only succeed if we support it with relevant information. The perpetrators of these heinous murders live among us. They can hardly commit these murders without being noticed by one or a number of people. The fact is, for inexplicable reasons, we shield them.
At a crash joint meeting of the Traditional Council and the Regional Security Committee (REGSEC) yesterday, the following measures were put up for immediate implementation to ensure that we do not lose a single life in addition to what we have lost so far:
1. Beefing up security with support from the Headquarters of the Security Services.
2. Increasing security patrols and security visibility in the Municipality.
3. Providing light at all the dark areas of the Municipality.
4. Security to work with a team of our hardworking neighbourhood watch volunteers.
The Traditional Council has as a matter of urgency, requested for an update on the investigations into the previous ritual murders. We cannot fight against fresh murders if we have no idea of what happened to those people apprehended after the previous ones. This has, to a large extent, dampened the spirit of volunteerism in many people. The Police Command has agreed with us on this score and has promised to furnish us with the information.
The Traditional Council has also requested that the National Security details work hand-in-hand with our team of young men, who know the terrain better. Security is a shared responsibility. Landlords and hoteliers should report guests who go out only at night for investigation. Henceforth, the maxim should be ‘See Something, Say Something’.
We are assuring you all that these measures are being undertaken in conjunction with others which for security reasons, we cannot put in the public domain. We are, therefore, calling on all of you to remain calm but vigilant. Go about your work without fear, but with vigilance. Above all, support the system put in place with valuable information and the Wala State will be free of these heartless criminals.
Thank you.
Signed
Wa Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo IV
Overlord, Wala State & President, Wala State Council.
