A renewed chieftaincy and land dispute between two Konkomba factions in Gbingbani, North East Region, has left one male adult dead and more than ten houses torched. The violent conflict erupted around midnight on Friday when unidentified armed men launched a coordinated attack on the community.

District Chief Executive Konlan Bitian confirmed the incident to JoyNews, revealing that several houses had been set ablaze. He expressed concern over the deserted state of the community, with men fleeing and leaving behind women and children. “We were hit with the sad news this morning [Saturday] that the community is on fire again,” Bitian stated.

Despite police deployment, tensions remain high. Reports indicate that armed men from Jejung, a nearby village under Chereponi, are planning further attacks on Gbingbani. “Just this morning, we had intelligence that men are gathering in a nearby community, Jujung, in the Chereponi district to attack the Gbingbani community,” Bitian said.

While the immediate cause of the recent violence is unclear, Bitian suspects it is linked to the ongoing chieftaincy and land disputes between the factions. This latest incident follows a previous clash in March, which resulted in two deaths and significant property destruction, including tractors and tipper trucks.

The District Chief Executive urged for calm and reinforced the need for resolution to prevent further escalation of violence.