Six people are reported dead following a clash between NDC and NPP supporters at Kpatinga, in the Gushegu District of the Northern Region.

As a result, the government has imposed a curfew on the Gushegu District from 7 pm to 5 am.

The clash is said to have occurred on Sunday evening while the NPP supporters were about to erect a canopy at Kpatinga and the NDC supporters were also hoisdng a flag.

A police source at Gushegu who disclosed this to the Times yesterday said about eight houses including that of the NDC's constituency chairman, and a number of vehicles and motorbikes have also been burnt.

The source said following the incident, people, especially women, have fled to nearby communities for safety.

A resident, Fuseini Adam, in a telephone interview, called for the intervention of the security agencies to stop further deterioration of the situation.

Adam alleged that supporters of both parties were armed with sophisticated weapons.

Confirming the incident to the Times, the Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, said the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has already dispatched military personnel to the area.

In Tamale, six people sustained injuries from gun shots and stone throwing following violence that broke out between supporters of the NPP and the NDC on Sunday.

The injured, whose identities were not immediately known were rushed to hospital.

Office structures of the NDC at the Picorna Hotel area and the NPP near the Victory Cinema Hall were destroyed, and so were two saloon cars and a number of motor bikes belonging to supporters of either party.

The shooting incident occurred at the Jubilee Park when Dr Mahamadu Bawumia, the running mate of the NPP flag-bearer was about to address party supporters around sunset.

A resident of Dagbon Dabofong, a suburb of Tamale, Bawa Shaibu, said but for the timely intervention of the combined military and police force, the situation would have been more serious.

He said some youth had blocked a road leading to the Tamale-Kumasi highway to cause mayhem but they were dispersed by the security.

ASP Abanga Caesar, Tamale Metropolitan Police Commander, told the Times that no arrest had been made but said investigations were going on to find out what triggered the violence and the shootings.

However, each party is blaming the other for the incident.

According to the NDC Regional Vice Secretary, Umar Alhassan, some supporters of the party were attacked when they were returning from a rally at Old Market.

In the process, he said, three motorbikes belonging to the party supporters were seized by their opponents and burnt.

The NPP leadership on the other hand pointed accusing fingers at the NDC supporters. Faisal Gbangili, Acting Regional Secretary of the NPP, said while the party's supporters were at the rally, a gun shot was fired into the crowd.

Although the metropolis appeared calm yesterday morning, military armoured vehicles were patrolling the principal streets of Tamale.


Source: Times