Some skirmishes occurred on Tuesday between the Nimoro and Fielimoa communities in the Sissala West District over a disputed piece of land.
The Sissala West District Police Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) James Aggrey, said the police received reports that some youth at Nimoro were alleged to have gone to a farm belonging to a Fielimoa man and destroyed some yam seedlings.
This did not go down well with the youth of Fielimoa who wanted to retaliate by attacking the Nimoro people, but the timely intervention of the police calmed the situation.
ASP Aggrey said information about the alleged altercation spread to other Sissala communities and at Zini, some Daagabas were alleged to have armed themselves with bows and arrows and guns, marching towards Nimoro.
The Zini people prevented the Daagabas from leaving their community.
ASP Aggrey said the police in the District were keeping surveillance on the communities involved and were also talking to them to sue for peace.
“My worry is that any time we hear of troubles in the communities we go there, talk with them and calmly settle the matter, but as soon as we leave, they start the troubles again”, ASP Aggrey said.
He added that an individual from Fielimoa who was arrested by the Nimoro people and handed over to the Police had been released.
He said when the individual was interrogated, it was revealed that he was looking for his missing cattle in the bush and was not among those who were alleged to have armed themselves to attack Nimoro people.
ASP Aggrey said the Police did not have means of transport to move swiftly to the communities and had to depend on the District Assembly for transport.
Mr Felix Neetega, Assembly Member of Fielimoa, said it was in January when the land problem occurred but it had since not been settled.
He called on the security agencies to help disarm the people in the two communities because they were hoarding a lot of weapons in their rooms.
Mr Neetega said the patience of the Fielimoa people were running out and called on the authorities to handle the issue with care so that it does not escalate further.
Kuoro Barecheh Nlowie Baninye II, Acting President of the Zini Traditional Area, said he came from Wa and heard that Fielimoa people were preparing to attack his people.
He said he reported matter to the police and the BNI as well as the District Chief Executive and the presiding member of the District Assembly.
Kuoro Baninye said he left Zini in the morning to attend the Sissala West District Assembly’s meeting at Gwollu and got a phone call that a group of people armed with weapons were marching to Nimoro to attack them.
Kuoro Baninye said he left Gwollu immediately and moved to Zini where he met the arrested Daagabas.
He also moved to Nimoro and talked to the people to remain calm and while the authorities intervened to resolve the issue.