Man Killed Over Woman

ONE PERSON has been confirmed dead and another badly injured following a communal clash between residents of Duu and Kinkandina, both farming communities in the West Mamprusi district of the Northern Region over a woman. The body of the deceased, identified as Sibri Tindana, 25, has been deposited at the Walewale Government Hospital morgue pending autopsy. The latest communal clash is coming on the heels of a similar one between Fulani and Konkomba settlers in the Gushiegu District of the same region where over 13 Fulani people were said to have died. Walewale District Police Commander, ASP Samuel P. Sampana, who confirmed the skirmishes to DAILY GUIDE, disclosed that more than 30 houses and properties worth several thousands of cedis had been destroyed. According to him, a grinding mill machine, whose owner was not immediately known, was destroyed by the warring factions at Kinkandina. Thirty-year-old Dansuma Tong has been arrested in connection with the violence and is currently assisting police in their investigations. Security chiefs disclosed that a resident of Duu was reported to be dating and living with a woman from the other community despite objections from the woman�s father. The man was reported to have demanded that the woman return to Kinkandina since she was not legally married to her fianc� who was also said to have a sour relationship with her father. The boyfriend acceded to the demands of his would-be father in-law to allow the woman to return to Kinkandina, offering to transport her in the company of his friend to the village. On their return after dropping the woman, they were ambushed and attacked by assailants allegedly contracted by the woman�s father, leading to the death of Sibri Tindana, 25. News of the death of the young man, on reaching Duu, heightened tension as residents armed themselves and launched a retaliatory attack on residents of Kinkandina, burning down houses and properties including barns of stored food. The arrival of armed policemen deployed from Tamale ended the violence, with the men fleeing into the bushes. The District Chief Executive (DCE) for West Mamprusi, Adam Yusif Banabelsera, who is also the Chairman of the District Security Committee (DISEC), has visited the troubled communities. He told DAILY GUIDE that heavy police presence was on the ground to forestall further clashes, hinting that investigations had since commenced to unravel those behind the dastardly act. The DCE warned that any person found culpable, irrespective of his/her political inclination, would be dealt with according to the law. Meanwhile, women and children have started fleeing the area following reports that more police personnel will be deployed to the area to brutalize residents but the DCE has discounted the claim, indicating that the police were only there to restore calm.