One person has been shot dead and 14 others sustained various degrees of gunshot wounds following a clash between the people of Drobo and Japekrom in the Brong Ahafo Region Wednesday evening.

The deceased, 42-year-old Wofa Atta Sena, who was the Mmrantihene, was returning from the Mpoasu River with other residents of Japekrom when they came under attack in the Drobo township, the Police in the region has confirmed.

They had gone to the riverside near Drobo to perform some rituals as part of the celebration of the Munufie Festival by the Chiefs and people of Japekrom, which is about 1,000 metres to Drobo.

A vehicle that transported them to the riverside, was also burnt, the police said.

No arrest has been made, Brong Ahafo PRO Chief Inspector Augustine Kingsley Oppong told 3News, but said the military-cum-police patrol team in the area has since Wednesday restored peace.

The cause of the attack, the Police said, is not yet known, but residents believe it was triggered by a longstanding land dispute between people of the the two towns.

Other deaths

Meanwhile, the Police said one other person was later found dead beside a taxi near the District Assembly.

“The Police/military patrol team in the town spotted a certain taxi at the district assembly. They saw someone lying beside it and they took him to hospital but he was pronounced dead. There was no gunshot wounds on the body so we suspect it was some group of people who committed this heinous crime,” Chief Inspector Oppong said.

What happened?

As part of the celebration of the Munufie festival, the people of Japekrom on the last of the celebration (Wednesday) went to the Mpoasu River to perform “cleansing rites”.

“On their return, the people alighted at the outskirt of Drobo and marched through the Drobo town. On reaching a section of the road, they saw a barricade and while it was being removed, gunshots were fired into the gathering” Chief Inspector Oppong said.

He said 15 persons were shot and one was pronounced dead by doctors at the Sampa Government Hospital.

Chief Inspector Oppong said the Police escorted the others from the scene to Japekrom safely.

The Police say investigations into the incident has started to establish the cause

Source: peacefmonline.com