Four killed in exchange of gunshots at Bimbilla
Four persons are believed to have died yesterday when two groups of butchers clashed over the refusal of one group to follow the tradition of presenting its share of meat to the regent of Bimbilla in the Nanumba North District in the Northern Region.
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Nine others are said to have sustained gunshot wounds and are receiving treatment at the Bimbilla Government Hospital.
The identities of the dead are yet to be established.
According to the police, it was the tradition for the two groups of butchers to present their share of meat to the Regent of Bimbilla.
But one group refused to do so because it did not recognise the current regent as the overlord of Bimbilla.
That development led to a shootout between the two groups, leading to the death of the four persons and injury to nine others.
At the time of going to press yesterday, the police had intervened to bring the situation under control but no arrest had been made.
More security personnel have been deployed to the town to maintain law and order.
Order for arrest
Commenting on the incident, the Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna, condemned the act, saying it was unfortunate.
“While the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) is in discussions to seek peace in the area, others also want the conflicts that have been deterring investors from contributing to the development of the town to stop,” he stated.
He called for an urgent REGSEC meeting to review the curfew which had been imposed on the town in 2014 and urged security personnel to arrest persons found in the conflict zone for proper investigations and prosecution to forestal future occurrence.
Bimbilla conflict
Meanwhile, the Northern Regional Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ebenezer Tetteh, in an interview, said more security personnel had been deployed to the area to ensure peace and tranquillity.
Background
In 2014, the Interior Ministry imposed a 12-hour curfew on Bimbilla because of a shooting incident which led to the death of the overload of the town, Naa Dasana Abdulai Andani II.
The shooting was triggered by a disagreement between two chieftaincy factions over where to bury the late chief of the town, Nakpaa-Naa Salifu Dawuni.