Bloodbath averted in Bole

The Northern Regional Security Council (REGSEC) averted a bloodbath between two rival chieftaincy factions at Tinga, a farming community in the Bole District of the Northern Region, on Monday.

Four of the heavily armed warriors from Kabilma, who attempted moving into Tinga to fight, have since been arrested by a combined team of armed police and military patrol team, and are in police custody pending further investigations.

Tension was reportedly brewing in Tinga and Mandari following plans by two feuding chiefs to officially move into their palaces.

But for the timely intervention of armed security agents who were immediately deployed to the two communities on the orders of REGSEC, the situation would have turned bloody as supporters of both chiefs allegedly armed themselves for possible attacks.

The Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna, who confirmed the swift security intervention to DAILY GUIDE, disclosed that he had directed the chiefs to immediately withdraw from the communities or incur his wrath.

He warned that REGSEC would not hesitate to arrest and detain any individual who holds himself as chief in the troubled communities until the matter was resolved by the kingmakers.

According to him, his outfit was more concerned about the security of residents than who was the rightful heir to the disputed skins since that did not lie within his power.

The Tinga Skin currently in dispute became vacant after the demise of Tingawura Alhassan Amankwa of the Denkeri gate, one of the royal gates of Bole.

Customarily, the occupation of the skins in dispute rotates from one gate to another. As pertains to most of the sub-skins therefore, it was the turn of the Safope gate to take over the reins of power. Unfortunately, this allegedly aggravated the divisions within the Safope gate, which at the time was battling with a similar issue at Mandari.

Most members of the gate expressed interest, but the front runners were Alhaji Sampson Seidu Abudu, a former District Chief Executive for Bole and Balewura Lansah Abudu.

On 5th September, 2013, the Bolewura summoned the Safope gate to his palace over the Tinga Skin, and after deliberating on the issue, he selected Balewura Lansah Abudu to occupy the skin much to the chagrin of Alhaji Sampson Seidu Abudu.

The Yagbonwura Tuntumba Borisa I on September 20, 2013 reversed the Bolewura’s decision on the Tinga Skin by choosing Alhaji Sampson Seidu Abudu, son of Yagbonwura Kurabaso, as the Tingawura.

Consequently, both chiefs held themselves as legitimate occupants of the Tinga Skin, as each believed he followed the right procedure to be enskinned.

Last Monday, the Bolewura’s Tingawura (Chief Lansa Abudu) and the Yagbonwura’s Tingawura (Alhaji Seidu Sampson Abudu) decided to move into the town, and this escalated the tension in the area, prompting REGSEC to act swiftly to avert bloodshed.

The Gonjaland Youth Association in a press release signed by its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Haruna Mahama, expressed disappointment in the conduct of the traditional leaders in the area, warning that the situation, if not properly handled, could plunge the area into chaos.

According to him, Bole has had one of the most peaceful chieftaincy succession processes in Gonjaland, adding that nothing should be done to mar the successes chalked over the years.