Tamale on fire agains, nine arrested

Nine persons have been arrested by a joint police and military team in the Tamale Metropolis in connection with fresh violence there.

The violence is said to have resulted in the death of one person and injured several others.

The Deputy Northern Regional Police Commander, ACP P.A. Sarpong told Joy News the suspects were arrested for their role in the violence, the killing or arms offences.

The disturbances involved supporters of the New Patriotic Party and National Democratic Congress.

There is sporadic shooting in the Metropolis with security officials expressing worry at the sophisticated weapons involved.

ACP Sarpong described the security situation in Tamale as “not too good but is under control”.

He said the police and the military are jointly patrolling the streets in readiness to nip any escalation in the bud.

Joy FM's Northern Regional correspondent, Mahama Shaibu reports some streets in the metropolis have been deserted.

Shops, he said, have closed as shop owners fear their shops could be burnt or looted if the violence escalates.

Many houses have been razed without any compunction amidst heightened tension.

The Member of Parliament for Tamale Central whose constituency has seen a flurry of violent activities expressed regret at the development.

Alhaji Inusah Fuseini appealed to the security agencies to work conscientiously towards retrieving all illegal weapons in the hands of civilians in the constituency.

A victim of the violence, Bawa Baako Alhassan, told Joy News his son was the prime target in the incident.

Mr Alhassan whose house has also been burnt said he suffered a similar fate in 2003 when his whole house was razed down.

Story by Malik Abass Daabu