Accra, April 12, GNA - The Abudu Royal Family in Dagbon has condemned the way and manner the security operatives arrested the people in Yendi, in the early hours of Saturday April 10 this year.
"Indeed, all peace loving Ghanaians and human rights activists all over the world should condemn the actions of the security operatives," Dr Ziblim Iddi, spokesperson of the Family told a press conference in Accra on Monday.
Security personnel on the dawn of Saturday rounded up 41 people during a swoop in the Yendi Municipality, in a bid to arrest the suspected murderers of the Overlord of Dagbon, Ya-Naa Yakubu Andani II.
The suspects were screened at Bimbilla and six of them were sent to Accra for further investigations while 33 persons were given self recognizance bail.
Dr Iddi said all the people arrested were picked-up without being told the reason for their arrest and were also denied their constitutional right to legal representation.
He said at least two of them, including a 76 year-old Mba-Dugu, were not allowed to put on their dress at the point of arrest.
Dr. Iddi said those who were brought to Accra were forced to stay hungry until about 2000 hours when the family members provided them with food.
He besides, family members of some of the arrested persons were not allowed to talk to them from Saturday to Monday.
"Various agents of government indulged in constitutional violations over the past 48 hours in their eagerness to appease the Andani family in a partial fulfilment of their campaign pledge to the family," Dr Iddi said.
He said such practices had serious legal and constitutional implications, adding that the 'high-handedness of the government in the handling of the case was a dangerous threat to due process and the rule of law.'
"While the Abudu gate would cooperate with any credible investigation initiated by the President to find the perpetrators of the murder of the Ya-Naa, it would resist any political trail aimed at convicting innocent people to satisfy the Andani Family". Dr Iddi said.
He said that the family was convinced that the people arrested for the murder of the late king would be acquitted and set free by a competent court.
Dr. Iddi asked members of the public and sympathizers of the Abudu family to remain calm and continue to pray for the health and safety of the eight people in custody.
Ya-Naa Yakubu Andani II was murdered in March 2002 with about 30 of his traditional elders.
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