ONE person is reported dead, while others are reported to have sustained various degrees of injury, in renewed conflict at Buipe in the Central Gonja District of the Northern Region between two factions in the protracted chieftaincy dispute in the area.
The incident comes hard on the heels of a ruling by the Judicial Committee of the Northern Regional House of Chiefs over who is the rightful claimant to the Kusawgu Skin.
The situation has since been brought under control, with a combined team of about 60 police and military personnel patrolling the area to ensure law and order, while efforts are being made by the Northern Regional Security Council to find a lasting solution to the crisis.
No arrest has been made.
Since the death of the late chief of the traditional area in 2006, there has been an uneasy calm, following continuous disagreements over the rightful heir to the skin.
Since the ruling by the judicial committee in favour of the Gyinapo Gate last Tuesday, there have been some minor skirmishes between members of that gate and the Yaafi Gate.
According to a security source, the existing tension culminated in a clash on Saturday, after a sympathiser of the Gyinapo Gate ventured into the domain of the opposing side, for which reason he was allegedly beaten.
When the information got to his people, they also mobilised their men and attacked the other group, resulting in the fatal clash.
When contacted, the Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, appealed to the two factions to always resort to dialogue in resolving their differences.
He warned that “the security apparatus will deal firmly with any individual or group which would want to take the law into their own hands and derail the prevailing peace in any part of the region”.
The minister further reaffirmed the government’s decision not to dabble in chieftaincy matters but noted that “it has the mandate and responsibility to maintain law and order, protect lives and property and also ensure the freedom of the individual”.
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