20 soldiers, 40 policemen patrol Buipe

The Central Gonja District capital of Buipe in the Northern Region is calm after a chieftaincy clash on Saturday left one dead and two injured from gunshots.

District Chief Executive, Yakubu Zakariah, told Joy News at midday that about 20 armed soldiers and over 40 policemen are patrolling the town to maintain law and order.

“The security situation is okay now,” he said, explaining that no arrests have been made.

He said the District Security Council was encouraging the factions to resort to dialogue to resolve their differences and described the latest disturbance as unfortunate.

Buipe, home to the calm White Volta Lake has since the death of their chief in 2006 seen the Yaafa and Gyanipo gates engrossed in a dispute over which side is the rightful heir to the Buipe skin.

The judicial committee of the Northern Regional House of Chiefs is said to have ruled in favour of the Gyanipo gate, but the Yaafa gate disputes the decision.

According to the DCE, the latest upheaval between the two sides who live in clearly demarcated sides of the town, started because one person strayed into the opponents' zone.

The Northern Regional Police Commander, Ephraim Brakatu also told Joy News that the police has warned the factions to refrain from violence in resolving differences and assured that the police will maintain a strong presence in the town.

“We have intensified patrols and we are talking to both parties to obey the laws of the land, because the losers and their lawyer are filing an appeal at the National House of Chiefs so I see no reason why they should resort to the use of arms. I spoke to both parties in a strong warning that they should refrain from the use of arms and use the judicial process. I left Buipe at midnight yesterday and all is calm as at now,” he said.

Author; Isaac Yeboah