Seventy Arrested In Renewed Lukula Chieftaincy Clashes

About 70 suspects have been picked up by the police in connection with the renewed chieftaincy and land disputes at Lukula and Mempeasem communities in the North Gonja District in the Savannah Region.

The suspects were rounded up in a swoop conducted by security operatives at Daboya on Friday dawn upon intelligence. They are in police custody pending screening as part of investigations.

Graphic Online gathers that the suspects who are believed to have launched the violent attack on the two communities were picked up from their hideouts.

A renewed chieftaincy and land clash in the two communities on Thursday has resulted in the death of at least seven people and injury of many others.

A number of residents, particularly women and children have been displaced while many houses have been burnt down beyond recognition.
It is unclear what might have sparked the violence. However, there have been recurring chieftaincy conflicts in the area over the years..

The conflict involved rival chiefs in the Wasipe Traditional Area in the Savannah Region and the Soo Traditional Area in the North East Region.

The Lukula community is on the boundary of the two traditional areas. The Police in a statement said a gang numbering about 50 reportedly invaded the Mempeasem community and kidnapped a 50-year-old man.

The gang, however, fled into the bush when the Police responded to the attack.

The Police managed to rescue the kidnapped victim and retrieved one AK-47 weapon together with 14 rounds of ammunition, seven motorbikes and two bicycles from the scene of the incident.

A search for the suspects in the area led to a further retrieval of a bag containing 240 AK-47 ammunition.

According to the police, three persons were initially arrested while others were being pursued others in connection with violent attacks on Mempeasem and Lukula communities by opposing factions in land and chieftaincy disputes.

SOURCE : Graphic Online