Bimbilla death toll hits 19 as police discover more bodies on farm

At least 19 people have been confirmed dead after last Thursday’s clashes in Bimbilla in the Northern region of Ghana after the discovery of more bodies on farms.

Police had earlier put the death toll at 13, following the death of one more person who had been admitted to hospital over the weekend.

Ten people were admitted at the hospital, having sustained injuries following sporadic shootings between two rival factions in the town.
According to regional police spokesman Ebenezer Tetteh, a 4pm curfew has been set.

Eight suspects have so far been arrested in connection with the clashes involving butchers and have been taken to the regional capital Tamale for interrogation. According to Tetteh, the anti-terror squad of the Ghana Police has been dispatched to the region to keep peace.

Clashes broke out Thursday after some butchers at Bimbillah in the Nanumba North District refused to recognise Yakubu Dasana Andani as the regent of the Nanumba Traditional Area and subsequently refused to observe a custom which demands that butchers give a portion of their slaughter to the traditional ruler.

The custom, according to reports, has not been observed for some time now because the area has been involved in a protracted chieftaincy dispute which led to the murder of the late paramount chief Naa Dasana Abdulai Andani last year.