A 43-year old farmer has been killed at Bablisuglo, a farming community near Nakpanduri in the Northern Region and his body dismembered by his assailants.
The unidentified attackers after murdering the victim, Sadat Janabah in what is suspected to be a reprisal attack on his farm, chopped-of his left arm and his head and removed other vital parts of his body.
The incident happened last Wednesday and the remains of the deceased have since been buried after a post mortem. No arrest has been made yet.
Panic
The incident has sent shock, fear and panic among the residents as they are now apprehensive in going to their farms.
School children in the area are also being compelled to stay at home.
Last Wednesday�s incident comes almost three weeks after a similar murder of a 40-year old farmer, Yakubu Laari by some faceless assailants at Sokogu in the East Mamprusi district of the Northern Region.
Police
According to the Northern Region Police PRO ASP Ebenezer Tetteh, Sadat was murdered on his farm after the attackers had succeeded in scaring away the deceased�s wife who was assisting him on the farm.
He said the assailants made away with his two bullocks after the sordid ordeal. Even though the police are conducting investigations into this latest incident, it is believed to be in connection with the recent violent clashes between the Bimobas on one hand and Konkombas and Mamprusis at some communities in the East Mamprusi and Bunkpuru/Yunyoo districts.
Curfew
A curfew that is yet to be lifted, was imposed on the Nakpanduri township and its environs in the Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo district following the recurrent ethnic conflict in the area.
The curfew starts from 6am to 6pm. There is also a total ban on all persons in the area from carrying arms, ammunition or any offensive weapon.
According to a statement that was issued by the Northern Region Coordinating Council and signed by the Interior Minister, Kwesi Ahwoi, �any person found with any arms or ammunition will be arrested and prosecuted.�
Background
The sporadic conflict this year started early last month when a 28-year old man Sakuaka Binja was shot dead at Bombilla near Sakogu in the East Mamprusi district.
His death led to reprisal attacks at nearby communities. The simmering tensions that followed degenerated into further disturbances between the feuding factions leading to the burning down of about 60 houses.
Four persons have so far lost their lives while several properties including houses belonging to the feuding factions were burnt down in the conflict.
A number of ammunitions including three A.K. 47 assault raffles, four single barrels, a pistol and 73 rounds of G3 and AK 47 raffles have been retrieved from the conflict zone.
Arrest
Fourteen persons were subsequently arrested and sent to the Tamale circuit court where some of them were charged for murder, conspiracy to commit crime and possession of firearms.
The rest were also charged with causing damage to properties and possession of ammunition without lawful authority.
Five of the suspects were later sent to Accra for further questioning while five were remanded into prison custody in Tamale with the rest granted bail by the court.
History
There have been a long standing disagreements and acrimonies over land ownership and chieftain disputes among the Bimobas, Konkombas and Mamprusis in the Nakpanduri, Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo and some parts of the East Mamprusi districts over the years.
Even though there have been several interventions by the government and other stakeholders to achieve lasting peace and harmonious co-existence among the various ethnic groups, such an initiative has remained illusive.
Source: Daily Graphic
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