Update: Three killed in renewed ethnic and chieftaincy dispute in Bunkpurugu
A 70-year-old man was shot dead Monday morning following the continued gunshot exchanges in Bunkprugu in the Northern Region. The deceased, Namka Babin, was hit by a stray bullet during the shootings.
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Also a 25-year-old student of the Bunkprugu Senior High School, Master Adam Biitak, has sustained severe gunshot wounds while more than 20 thatched houses have also been set ablaze. Biitak is currently receiving treatment at the Nalerigu Baptist Hospital.
This brings the number of people killed in the renewed violence in the area to three. Two persons were earlier killed in the renewed ethnic and chieftaincy dispute between the two royal gates of Jamond and Jafok families at the weekend. Several houses have also been burnt down following the clashes.
Confirming the incident to Graphic Online, the Northern Regional Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mr Ebenezer Tetteh said the incident happened Monday morning as a result of the continued gunshot exchanges in the town.
He said police reinforcement had been dispatched from Tamale to augment the security in the area. He said due to the continued shootings, the police had not been able to make any arrest.
"It is very dangerous to make any arrest now because we are trying to restore calm first", ASP Tetteh explained. According to him, the shootings were accompanied by the burning of the houses and that was making the situation more difficult.
He, however, said the police and the military were working closely to ensure that peace prevailed in the area.
Background
The District Chief Executive (DCE) of Bunkpurugu, Mr Timothy Laary Sampoa earlier in a telephone interview told Graphic Online that the incident occurred on Friday when it was reported to the police that two members from the Jamond family were missing.
He said the two missing men from the Jamond family were traveling on motor bike to a nearby town but were attacked and killed by some unknown persons on Friday, November 27, 2015.
Mr Sampoa said the police on Saturday morning, November 28, 2015, found the bodies of the two persons at the outskirts of the town.
He said since the bodies were found, there have been series of sporadic gun shots in the community.
He, however, said a team of police and military were on the grounds to restore peace to the area.
“They fired from yesterday (Sunday evening) almost till day break”, Mr Sampoa stated.
Gunshots
In spite of the presence of the police and military in the town, gunshots are still being fired in the town.
Graphic Online's telephone interview with Mr Sampoa was interrupted by sporadic gunshot sounds at the background.
“I will attend to you later, I am hearing some gunshots in the town”, the DCE stated.
Meanwhile, several others have also sustained various degrees of injuries and are receiving treatment at the Nalerigu Baptist Hospital.
A 4pm to 6am curfew has been imposed in the area following a similar ethnic and chieftaincy clash in April this year that led to the death of two persons and destruction of several houses.