7 Remanded in connection with Bimoba, Mamprusi/Konkomba conflict
The Tamale Circuit Court yesterday remanded in police custody seven out of the 14 suspects arrested in connection with murder and the destruction of property in the ethnic conflict in some parts of the East Mamprusi and the Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo districts.
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They are to reappear on April 22.
Seven other suspects are still being held at the Gambaga Police Station while preparations are made to bring them to Tamale to face prosecution.
Four of the suspects — Laar Kombian, Kakraba Yiton, Dakoli Isaac and Kombet Sugula — were charged with murder, conspiracy to commit crime and possession of firearms.
The rest were charged with causing damage to properties and possession of ammunition without lawful authority.
The Northern Regional Police Crime Officer, Alhaji Mahama Arhin, in an interview, described the situation in the conflict area as calm.
“For the past 24 hours the situation has been calm, as security personnel have intensified their patrols of the area,” he said.
The renewed conflict started last Wednesday when a 28-year-old man, Sakuaka Binja, was shot dead at Bombilla, near Sakogu in the East Mamprusi District.
His death led to reprisals in nearby communities the following day.
The simmering tension that followed degenerated into an all-out conflict between the Bimobas, on the one hand, and a group of Mamprusis and Konkombas, on the other, that has led to the burning down of about 60 houses.
Four persons have so far lost their lives, while properties, including houses belonging to the feuding factions, have been burnt down.
A number of ammunition, including three AK 47 assault rifles, four single-barrelled guns, a pistol and 73 rounds of G3 and AK 47 bullets, have been retrieved from the conflict zone.
Although Sakuaka’s death seems to have reactivated the current clashes, there have been some underlining disagreements and acrimonies over land ownership and chieftaincy disputes among the Bimobas, Konkombas and Mamprusis in the Nakpanduri, Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo and some parts of the East Mamprusi districts over the years.
Almost every year, these misunderstandings lead to internecine conflicts which cause death and destruction of properties.