Nkwanta clashes death toll now 7

Five more deaths have now been reported in Nkwanta in the Oti Region last Sunday following renewed hostilities between rival ethnic factions.

This brings the death toll to seven in the clashes that started last Wednesday.

The clashes initially left two deaths, including a farmer and an 18-year-old student of the Nkwanta Senior High School (NKWASEC), who was killed by a stray bullet on the school compound.

The final year student was the Library Prefect of the school.

With two students also injured, the incident left horrified students running for cover, creating pandemonium in the school.

The Headmaster of NKWASEC, Solomon Sarpong, said the male student, killed by a stray bullet on the school compound during the clash, was buried last Saturday.

Mr Sarpong said, “Two female students who sustained gunshot wounds have been treated and discharged at St Joseph’s Hospital and are now with their parents”.

Latest casualties

The latest casualties include a 30-year-old farmer resident at Keri, who was supposedly fleeing with his two relatives to their hometown, Shiare, when they were ambushed and shot dead at Bonakye.

According to the police, the bodies have been deposited at the morgue of St. Joseph’s Hospital at Nkwanta pending autopsy.

The clashes have left Nkwanta as a ghost town where residents largely remain indoors.

The feud has also resulted in injuries, destruction of properties, including a big warehouse and stores, military barracks, and the home of a top state security operative, among others.

Commercial activities in the once vibrant town have also come to a standstill, while the people, especially women and children, are rapidly fleeing the area.

The government has reacted by ordering the closure of all schools with immediate effect until further notice, while a dusk-to-dawn curfew has been imposed.

Also, the Nkwanta branch of the GCB Bank PLC has been closed down indefinitely.

The authorities have also advised parents to keep schoolchildren at home and wait for further instructions.

The Nkwanta-South Municipal Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police Michael Asiedu, said 10 suspects had been arrested and sent to Accra for investigations. 

Exercise restraint

Meanwhile, the Chief of Kpassa, Ubor Konja Tasan, has appealed to Kokombas to exercise restraint and ensure that they contribute actively to end the conflict in the area.

“We have to prove that people of different ethnic groups can live together in harmony to satisfy their common aspirations,” he said.

The Oti Regional Minister, John Kwadwo Gyapong, has paid a working visit to commiserate with the victims and affected families of the recent tribal clash within the Nkwanta South Municipality.

He said it was time for the people to decide not to continue with the fighting and called on the youth and the elders to support the implementation of the peace process to bring lasting solution to the conflict.

Mr Gyapong said the prolonged conflict had threatened the peace, safety and prosperity of the citizens, as well as hindered the development of the area.

He urged the feuding factions to allow peace to prevail and choose the path of amicable solutions to issues instead of the use of weapons that led to deaths and destruction of properties. 

Background

The feud began last Thursday when the elders of one of the tribes, Akyode, allegedly went to the main market to perform the annual ritual that preceded the bringing of new yam tubers. 

This ritual has been performed annually by the elders of Akyode. It did not go down well with the people of Challa, who claimed they were not legitimate to perform the ritual.

This caused some misunderstanding between the two tribes, and amid the chaos, some youths exploited the situation and incited the crowd to react violently.

Prior to that, the Oti Regional Security Council had convened the three tribes involved in the conflict, namely Akyode, Challa, and Adele, at Dambai. It was decided that the tribes, in their pursuit of peace, should celebrate their annual festivals in their traditional towns.

That means Akyode will celebrate theirs in Shaire, Challa in Odome and Adele in Tutukpene.

However, because they are farmers, before these celebrations can take place, the rites that precedes the bringing of new yam tubers to the market at Nkwanta must be performed annually by the elders of Akyode, who were pounced on by the Challa, while doing that in the market. 

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