Soldiers arrest elderly landlords in Nanton over chieftaincy dispute

The uneasy calm in the Nanton township of the Northern Region was shattered once again last Friday night following the arrest of a group of elderly landlords by military personnel deployed to the area.

The men, all believed to be in their late 60s and members of the Sapasheini-nima—a respected circle of elders in the community—were reportedly picked up while relaxing at their usual evening meeting spot.

Eyewitnesses told the Tamale News Agency that the arrests occurred around 9:00 p.m.

The men, who had gathered after supper for a casual conversation as part of their nightly routine, were suddenly surrounded by armed soldiers.

The officers accused them of plotting an attack on an unspecified target, an allegation the community members insist is baseless.

Following the arrests, the soldiers reportedly conducted a series of searches at the homes of the detained landlords.

Residents say the military confiscated several household and traditional items, including machetes typically, guns used for hunting or performing funeral rites, butchers’ knives, and bottles of traditional black medicine.

These items, according to community members, are customary possessions for elderly men in Dagbon culture and are not associated with any form of criminal activity.

Witnesses also described the scene as humiliating and distressing, noting that the arrested men were shirtless at the time—an indication they had merely stepped out to take fresh air.

“They are old men, not troublemakers,” one resident lamented. “It’s unfair and demeaning to treat our elders like criminals.”