‘Bunkpurugu must choose development over violence’ – MP tells residents

Member of Parliament for Bunkpurugu, Dr Abed-Nego Lamangin Bandim, has appealed to residents to allow peace to prevail following renewed sporadic gunfire between rival clans in the area.

Dr Bandim said calm had returned to Bunkpurugu township following the deployment of the Police and Military, with joint patrols helping to stabilise the situation.

“There has been sporadic gunshots in the Bunkpurugu township. The security agencies have had to deal with that situation and as we speak there is relatively calmness in the area,” he told Citi News.

He urged residents to cooperate with the security agencies and refrain from actions that could escalate the situation.

“I would like to appeal to my people, they should allow peace to prevail. It is only when there is peace that we can enjoy the developmental projects that we are looking for,” he said.

The MP said several development projects were underway in the constituency, including school projects and CHPS compounds, but warned that continued violence could disrupt their implementation.

He explained that many of the workers engaged on the projects were not indigenous to the area and could leave if they felt unsafe.

“Currently, there are school projects being constructed. There are CHPS compounds under construction. Workers on these constructions are not indigenous; they are not from the area, so if you don’t allow peace to prevail and every day they wake up to sporadic gunshots, there is no way they are going to stay. They are going to leave.”

Dr Bandim said the situation could ultimately undermine the government's development efforts in the area, stressing that residents had to choose between peace and violence.

“The government may have paid them, the contractor, and if work is not done, you cannot force them because they need peace to work, and we must choose between development and violence,” he said.

The renewed gunfire has heightened concerns over a possible escalation of the conflict, with authorities reportedly considering a full curfew in Bunkpurugu to restore calm and prevent further attacks.