Minister reviews Bimbilla curfew due to sporadic gunfire

Mr Ambrose Dery, the Minister of Interior, has reviewed the protracted curfew on the Bimbilla Community from 1600 hours to 0600 hours with immediate effect, following the sporadic gunfire on Thursday, February 9, which claimed 10 lives.

Briefing the press on Friday on the latest development, the Minister said the death toll, which was two persons as at February 9, had risen to 10 where majority were women and children while 18 persons were reported injured.

He said government had deployed 130 police and 40 military personnel in the area to maintain peace and order, adding that the Police Service was sending a team of 13 detectives and operational men there to support the effort.

Mr Dery said government would continue to protect the Regent of Bimbilla as well as lives and property of all residents but would not interfere in the Bimbilla chieftaincy dispute, which had led to the death of many residents in the area.

He said he was told the clash had taken place because of the failure of one of the royal families to adhere to a commonly reached agreement.

Mr Dery explained that the Regional Security Council was informed about the intention of the Bimbilla Regent to enskin a sub-chief on February 9, adding that the Council decided against the plan after it met.

He said unperturbed by the Council's decision, the Regent went ahead with his plan incurring the displeasure of the other faction which resulted in the bloody clash. The deceased were shot in the process.

Mr Dery advised the individuals aggrieved by the chieftaincy issue to follow due process and to use the Regional House of Chiefs, National House of Chiefs or the courts where applicable.

He said the Regent was under police and military protection and the prosecution of those found liable would be determined by the outcome of the ongoing investigation.