Residents of Arugu, a farming community in the West Mamprusi District of the Northern Region on Saturday, March 24, 2012 were thrown into state of shock and confusion when four people were reportedly shot, while two others were hacked with machetes.
Additionally six houses were burnt along with foodstuff during the incident.
The unfortunate incident, Today gathered, followed a misunderstanding over which particular area of the Arugu farming community, the biometric registration exercise should be held.
The situation, Today understands, has for now led to shadow bouts, which has the potential to spark off a full blown war.
That looming danger is only a matter of time, Today can report.
And as usual the protagonists in the looming war drama are supporters of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the area.
The paper understands many vulnerable groups, including women and children, are seeking refuge in safe communities outside Arugu.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Hon. Mark Woyongo, who confirmed the incident on a number of radio networks in Accra yesterday, explained that the violence broke out after residents of Arugu insisted that residents of Ubarugu – another community in the Talensi District – register at the polling station in Arugu instead of the one at Ubarugu.
The minister confirmed the paper’s findings that the two sides have been at loggerheads over a strip of land occupied by some indigenes of Ubarugu.
Although the Arugu people claim the area belonged to them, the Ubarugans have always insisted on their autonomy and therefore believed there was no way they would be pushed away from the said land.
Mr. Woyongo further explained that when officials of the Electoral Commission (EC) went to the vicinity on Saturday to commence the biometric registration exercise, the Arugu residents insisted the Ubarugu residents commute to Arugu for their registration. But the Ubarugans refused.
According to the minister, the situation led to the violent clashes between the two communities, adding that some residents and indigenes of the two farming communities fled to the Kassena-Nankana East District of the Upper East Region, assuring that the injured, were receiving treatment at a nearby hospital.
Two persons who were arrested Monday, the minister revealed, were forcibly freed from police custody by an angry mob the same day.
Meanwhile, the Northern and Upper East Regional Security Councils have met over the issue and the paper’s checks have established that police have been deployed to the locality.
The regional minister gave the firm assurance that security would be beefed up to ensure the smooth registration of voters in the area.
STORY: NEWS NESK REPORT
