Calm has returned to Salaga area after some youth of the town attack and set ablaze the Salaga South Constituency office of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in protest against the selection of Damongo as the capital of the newly created Savannah Region.
Seven suspects have been arrested by the Salaga divisional police command in connection with the vandalism which took place on Tuesday; moments after the President had made the announcement of the new region and its capital.
Northern Regional Police spokesperson, DSP Mohammed Yussif Tanko who confirmed the arrest to Diamond News said the suspects were picked up in the early hours of Wednesday, 13 February 2019 at Salaga upon tip off, and are in police custody to assist with further investigations.
It is also reported that the irate youth had planned to burn some government facilities including the bungalow of the Municipal Chief Executive, but DSP Tanko said the police moved in quickly and succeeded in foiling that action.
DSP Tanko noted that the situation had been brought under control and a police reinforcement team has been sent to Salaga from Tamale to help maintain law and order.
In a realted development, Ministers for Regional Reorganization and Development, Dan Kwaku Botwe and caretaker Minister for the Savana Region and Northern Regional, Salifu Saeed, have condemned the reactions from the Salaga area warning that such actions would be treated purely as criminal acts.
Dan Botwe said after broad consultations that taken place with all the traditional authorities from the Savana area agreeing to Damongo as the regional capital, it was needless for such destruction to take place.
