Chief escapes lynching during Eid prayers in Bole

Violence erupted between chieftaincy groups in Bole in the Savannah region after the Muslims special Eid prayers was disrupted and called off Wednesday.

Police have rescued a chief and his family who were nearly lynched by angry youth who set fire on a building.

The chaos sparked after the community chief imam called off the special prayers by Muslims to commemorate the Islamic Eid al-fitir festival, after information that rival groups were planning to attack at the prayer ground.

Another faction disagreed with the decision and went to attack the chief imam at his house and seized the symbolic staff for him.

This triggered a reaction from the chief imam’s faction to also storm the prayers ground to retake the staff. Warning shots were said to have been fired by both security and the alleged attackers, and the vehicle of a rival sect leader was vandalized.

A mild pandemonium ensued and the prayers were cancelled as congregants started to flee for safety.

Security forces in the town quickly reacted by dispersing the crowds and cleared the streets to avert reprisals.

An emergency curfew was imposed and residents were ordered to stay in doors.

The Bole town has been under curfew since last year when clashes broke between these two chieftaincy sides.

The situation had been managed for nearly six months now until chief Bukari, who had fled with his family to live at Damongo, decided to return to Bole to observe the Islamic festival.

Police are yet to make any statement on the renewed violence.