6 feared dead in East Gonja chieftaincy clash

Six people are feared dead with scores injured following gunfire exchanges between Kalampor and Kafaba, two farming communities near Salaga in the East Gonja District of the Northern Region.

The exchanges, which occurred yesterday around 4:00 a.m., according to eyewitnesses, saw gunmen invade the community and started shooting indiscriminately at people including Muslims preparing for morning prayers.

And though the Northern Regional Police Command Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police Mohammed Yussif Tanko, could not confirm the deaths, he said policemen had been deployed to quell the fighting and maintain law and order.

Residents have linked the clashes between the two communities to a long-standing chieftaincy dispute over who is the rightful ruler of the Kafaba and Kalampor traditional areas with the people of Kalampor contesting the kingship of the overlord of Kafaba.

Last year, similar clashes between the two communities over the same dispute led to the death of eight people on Saturday, May 28, 2016.

Some residents who spoke on condition of anonymity told Today that the present clash “is because the Kalanpor chief, who is not recognised by the paramount chief of Kafaba, is preparing to celebrate the Damba festival.”

A resident, who gave his name as Mustapha said for fear of his life he was fleeing the area to Salaga with his wounded colleague.

According to him, the gunmen secretly entered the community and targeted the chief’s palace.