17 arrested in clashes at Bimbilla

Europa 10:57 - 10 February 2017

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Two persons have been killed while eight others have so far been injured in the renewed clashes in the town following the installation of a new sub-chief.

Police have arrested 17 people following gunfire exchanges in the Northern Regional town of Bimbilla on Thursday.

As at 8:30 PM on Thursday, gunshots could be heard in the township, the Northern Regional Police Public Relations Officer ASP Ebenezer Tetteh said.

A joint security force comprising police and military men have been deployed to the area to forestall any disturbance.

The Ministry of Interior has since renewed the curfew on the town to between the hours of 4pm and 6am.

Background

Bimbilla is one of the poverty endemic areas in the Northern Region.

There has been sporadic violence in Bimbilla since 2014 after a contestant in the longstanding kinship dispute between members of the Gbugmayili gate was assassinated.

Properties were damaged while more than 10 people lost their lives after some butchers broke custom by refusing to offer sacrifices to Yakubu Dasana Andani whose legitimacy they challenged.