NDC, NPP supporters clash over assault on woman singing for NPP

A helpless woman accused of singing ‘insinuating song’ at a New Patriotic Party rally in the Yabaga-Kubori constituency, Northern Region, has been attacked and injured by supporters loyal to National Democratic Congress parliamentary candidate and chairman of the Hajj Board Alhaji Rauf Tanko.

Azumi Bawah, 47, and her little children were severely injured in the assault at their home in Yezisi after saying in a song at an NPP rally that she ‘chooses development over opulence’.

Speaking to Kasapa News the grieving woman said the angry men attacked her claiming her song was an innuendo about the wealth of Alhaji Rauf Tanko who is said to be running extravagant campaign in the area.

According to Azumi the violent NDC members led by the assemblyman for the area Tondow Abdul-Rahamani tore down part of her rooms with weapons, damaged her farm produces and looted an amount of GH1,800 (one thousand eight hundred cedis).

She added that 7 bags of guinea corn, 5 bags of maize and 7 rubber containers were badly vandalized and one child trampled on in the rampage. The two children are receiving treatment at the impoverished Yabaga clinic.

She named Abdulai Iddirisu, Attah Fuseini, Bawah, Nasigri and other two persons as her attackers.

“The NPP came to our community and I sung that I want a developer not a rich individual so the next day they came and beat me up and destroyed my properties; guinea corn, groundnut and maize. They destroyed and smashed my rooms gate and loot my money”

Reports indicated that the assault on the woman spiraled into a clashes after supporters of NDC stormed the area police station to attack again members of the NPP who were there to make a formal complaint.

Scores were reportedly injured including the constituency NDC organizer in the open brawl that lasted minutes in the police premises.

Several attempts for comments from Alhaji Rauf Tanko and other constituency executives of the National Democratic Congress party were unsuccessful, however this not the first time the NDC candidate is being accused of ‘intimidating tactics and bully’ of even members of his own party who fail to agree with him.

Police in the area confirmed the incident and said the skirmishes heightened tension in the area but added calm has been restored.

The Walewale District Police Commander DSP Sarpong Bempah told StarrNews the woman and her children had been given forms to seek medical care whiles investigation continues.

He described reports of the clashes as ‘exaggerated’ and indicated security in the area has been strengthened.

Speaking on the clashes, DSP Sarpong corroborated but said reinforcement was deployed and “there is no cause for alarm”