Nayiri Palace rejects Nalerigu curfew, demands apology and justice for slain students

The Mamprusi Traditional Council has condemned the government’s imposition of a curfew on Nalerigu and surrounding areas, calling it arbitrary, unjustified, and a clear sign of disrespect toward the authority of the Nayiri.

In a statement issued on Monday, July 28, the Palace expressed strong displeasure over the curfew, which came into effect on July 27, following the fatal shooting of two students at Nalerigu Senior High School by unknown assailants.

The curfew restricts movement from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. daily. However, the Nayiri Palace insists that the town remains calm and that the measure was implemented without any consultation with traditional authorities.

“The Nayiri Palace has taken grave notice of a communique circulating in the public domain announcing the imposition of a curfew… While Mamprugu remains firmly committed to constitutional rule… the Palace expresses its deep displeasure and dismay at the arbitrary and unjustified manner in which this curfew has been imposed,” the statement read.

While the motive for the killings remains unknown, speculation has linked the violence to the Bawku conflict. The Mamprusi Traditional Council has firmly rejected any such association, warning the government against lumping Nalerigu with conflict-prone areas.

“It is troubling that the government continues to pursue a misguided policy of equating the longstanding conflict in the Bawku Traditional Area with the peace and stability that exists in Mamprugu, particularly in Walewale and now Nalerigu,” the statement said.

The Council dismissed the government’s justification — that the curfew was needed to facilitate the safe evacuation of students — as “unconvincing” and counterproductive to lasting peace.

The Palace outlined three key demands:

Immediate lifting of the curfew in Nalerigu and its environs.
A full, transparent investigation into the murder of the students and swift justice.
An unqualified apology to the Nayiri and people of Mamprugu for bypassing traditional leadership.

The statement ended with a call for mutual respect and cooperation, stressing that peace in Mamprugu cannot be sustained through unilateral decisions devoid of local engagement.