ONE person died and several others got injured following a clash between youth groups believed to be sympathisers of the two major political parties, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), in Tamale last Tuesday night.
The deceased, Abdul-Rashid Nashiru, who passed away around 1:00am after sustaining gunshot on his jaw, is in the morgue of the Tamale Teaching Hospital. The deceased is said to be a sympathiser of the NDC.
Some of the injured persons have since been treated and discharged from the hospital. Those still on admission are Nuhu Fuseini, Mohammed Saaka, Ziblim Majeed and Kassim Yehuza.
So far, nine persons have been arrested by the police in connection with the violence. Their names are being withheld for security reasons.
Calm has, however, been restored to the metropolis after reported cases of arson at some suburbs, where some houses were burnt down.
The popular butchers shop at the Tamale Central Market was not spared the destruction as tables and stalls there belonging to a section of the butchers were equally burnt to the ground.
The situation has also slowed down businesses and social activities in the central business district of the metropolis as people were seen in groups discussing the violence.
There was, however, heavy security presence on patrol duties of the area to help nip any further disturbances in the bud.
According to the Tamale Metropolitan Commander of Police, ASP Abanga Caesar, investigations were ongoing to establish the actual cause of the disturbances that sparked off at about 8:00 p.m. last Tuesday.
He, however, indicated that a misunderstanding between some butchers at the central market later degenerated such political violence.
In a related development, the newly enskinned chief of Tamale, Dakpema Mohammed Alhassan Dawuni, has entreated the security agencies to, as a matter of urgency, arrest all perpetrators of the violence.
At a press conference in his palace yesterday, the chief condemned the violence and urged the security agencies to retrieve all illegal weapons in the possession of residents.
“I will like to advise the youth not to allow themselves to be used to cause violence at the least provocation. Tamale is not a jungle, but part of Ghana, where law and order must be allowed to operate,” Dakpema Dawuni stated.
He, however, assured residents of their safety and said everything possible would be done to normalise the situation and also ensure that peace and tranquillity prevailed at all times.
As of the time of filing the report yesterday, members of the Northern Regional Security Council (REGSEC) were locked up in a meeting.
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