Police in Bunkprugu, North East Region, have initiated a manhunt for Melchizedek Babotin Musah and six others following a deadly escalation in the town's long-running chieftaincy dispute. The latest violence erupted on Saturday after Mr. Musah was allegedly enskinned as a rival chief by members of the Jamong Family at a secluded location, despite a court injunction restraining the group from proceeding with the ceremony.
The disputed enskinment was followed by violent confrontations between rival factions, resulting in gunfire that claimed the life of a woman. Security personnel who moved into the area to restore calm were also attacked when gunmen allegedly opened fire on a military vehicle responding to the disturbance. One soldier sustained a gunshot injury and was evacuated to a hospital in Bolgatanga for medical treatment.
According to the police, the persons believed to have organized and participated in the disputed enskinment fled Bunkprugu shortly after the ceremony and are now being pursued as investigations intensify. The incident represents a fresh escalation in the longstanding dispute between the Jamong and Jafouk families over traditional authority in Bunkprugu, a conflict that has remained unresolved despite years of legal and traditional interventions.
The disputed ceremony was allegedly carried out despite an existing court order intended to prevent precisely such an action. On September 9, the police secured an injunction against Nyanu Yogbat and six other persons, preventing them from proceeding with plans to install a rival chief. The legal intervention followed an earlier attempt on August 18 to hold the ceremony, which was halted after the North East Regional Security Council intervened.
The situation deteriorated when members of the competing groups clashed later in the evening, resulting in gunfire and the death of a woman. The arrival of security personnel did little to immediately calm the situation as armed individuals allegedly fired at a military vehicle that had moved into the area in response to the disturbance. A soldier was hit by gunfire and later transported to Bolgatanga for further medical attention.
The latest confrontation is rooted in a much older disagreement over who should occupy the traditional leadership position in Bunkprugu. The Jamong Family has, following a ruling by the National House of Chiefs, been seeking the removal of the incumbent chief, Naa Abuba Nasinmong, who belongs to the Jafouk Family. The National House of Chiefs reportedly ruled in favor of the Jamong Family earlier this year.
ASP Emmanuel Simtim confirmed that the police had commenced an active search for the individuals believed to be connected to the latest incident. The police commander said calm had since returned to Bunkprugu and that security personnel had brought the situation under control. However, the death of the woman, the shooting of a soldier, and the alleged violation of a court injunction have heightened concerns over the possibility of further confrontation.
Key points
- The police are searching for seven persons linked to the disputed enskinment and violence in Bunkprugu.
- The chieftaincy dispute between the Jamong and Jafouk families has remained unresolved despite years of legal and traditional interventions.
- The incident has heightened concerns over the possibility of further confrontation if the competing claims to the Bunkprugu chieftaincy are not addressed through the appropriate legal and traditional mechanisms.
