Schools closed in Bimbilla. INSET: Naa Dasana
Two persons have been confirmed dead in renewed chieftaincy clashes in Bimbilla in the Nanumba North District of the Northern Region.
Several persons have reportedly sustained various degrees of injury while many houses were said to have been set ablaze at the time of filing this report.
The bodies have been sent to the Bimbilla Hospital mortuary for autopsy.
Unconfirmed reports indicate that some women have started fleeing the area with their children to nearby communities.
According to reports, there had been exchange of fire between security personnel and the fighters of the various royal gates.
Currently, shops, schools and health facilities in the district have been closed due to the volatile situation in the area.
A health worker at Bimbilla, who gave his name simply as Daniel, told DAILY GUIDE that the shooting started around 10am Thursday, which forced residents of the area to stay indoors.
According to him, there were sporadic shootings all over the township, causing fear and panic.
“As I am talking to you, I can hear gunshots through my window, which is really scary my brother,” he said.
He indicated that he and his colleagues who are not natives of Bimbilla, were planning to leave the town, should they get any available vehicle.
The Minister of the Interior, Ambrose Dery, has extended curfew hours in Bimbilla from 4pm to 6am with immediate effect.
Information available to DAILY GUIDE revealed that Naa Dasan, the regent of Bimbilla Traditional Area, wanted to enskin a sub-chief called Kanbong Naa (chief warrior) in the area against the advice of the City Council and the police, which resulted in a clash with the opposing side.
The Northern Regional Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), ASP Ebenezer Tetteh, who confirmed the incident to DAILY GUIDE, said the clashes were about chieftaincy.
According to him, there had been severe exchange of fire and so military and police personnel had been deployed to the area from Tamale.
From Eric Kombat, Bimbilla