Information reaching DAILY GUIDE indicates that, a number of women and children attempting to cross the White Volta in a boat to escape from the recent Chokosi-Konkomba clashes in Chereponi have lost their lives as the boat in which they were escaping capsized.
The total number of persons affected is not immediately known but a source close to DAILY GUIDE indicates that, the victims were making their way to Togo when the unfortunate incident happened.
The clashes erupted between Konkombas-Chokosis in the Chereponi district when a Chokosi man attempted to cultivate a parcel of land which resulted in a dispute.
The dispute was settled by the traditional authority with the paramount Chief of the area declaring Chokosis as the rightful owners of the land. However, the Konkomba’s rejected the ruling of the traditional authority and vowed not to allow any Chokosi native to cultivate or develop the land.
The Chief of Wenchiki in the Chereponi Traditional Area, Abubakari Awufor told DAILY GUIDE that, the women and children were Konkombas who came from Togo to settle in the area.
According to him, they were making their way back to Togo after clashes erupted between the two tribes when the boat they were traveling in capsized.
He added that, the bodies are yet to be identified and the number of victims confirmed.
Meanwhile, personnel of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) in the Chereponi district have commenced a rescue search at the disaster scene in the area.
The chief of Chokosis and his twelve elders have been arrested and detained at the Yendi Police Station to assist in investigations and a joint police and military personnel have been deployed in the villages to protect lives and properties.
FROM Eric Kombat, Chereponi