Kumbungu youth chief wanted by police for killing at fire festival

The police has declared the youth chief of Kumbungu in the Northern Region, a wanted man.

The 50-year-old youth chief, referred to in local parlance as Zaachi, is wanted for the killing of the chief of Chanzegu, a village near Kumbungu in the Northern Region.

The deceased, Saha Naa Haruna, 40, was said to have been hit by a stray bullet suspected to have come from an AK 47 rifle, which the Zaachi was holding at this year's fire festival (Bugum) on Thursday at about 11pm.

The Northern Regional Police Command has commenced investigations into the shooting incident and the youth chief according to the police, was currently on the run.

The youth chief was said to have pulled an AK 47 assault rifle during the festival and discharged two shots into the air as part of the celebration.

The AK 47 rifle is normally used by the police in Ghana.

The Bugum festival is an important occasion celebrated annually among the people of Dagbon, Gonja, Mamprugu and Nanumba ethnic groups to mark a historical event on the Mole-Dagbon calendar amid chanting, dancing, firing of muskets, lighting of fire and marching through the principal streets of the town.

The Northern Regional Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Mr Mohammed Yusif Tanko told Graphic Online that the police have been told that whilst the suspect was bringing the rifle down, it went off as a result and discharged a bullet that hit the neck of the deceased.

The deceased was rushed to the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) but was pronounced dead on arrival.