The death toll in violent clashes between the people of Kalampor and Kafaba in the East Gonja District of the Northern Region has risen to eight.

The violence started Saturday evening when a group of people believed to come from Kalampor shot into a group of Kafaba football spectators killing one and injuring sixteen others.

An eyewitness said 'We were just watching the football when they pounced on us, shooting sporadically….everyone was screaming. Then people were on the floor. They used the main road which is surrounded by the bush.

The rest of us tried to follow them when they moved to a commercial car around but we couldn’t get them because the place was dark. People have really been injured, boys, girls, and adults,' in Twi.

In retaliation, the people of Kakoshi (allies of the Kafabas) reportedly attacked the people of Kalampor on Sunday but lost another person in the ensuing violence.

As the day progressed, six more bodies were discovered. Their lineage is yet to be established. The killings took place despite a heavy security presence in the town following the Saturday night attack.

According to a reporter, Christopher Mensah the two sides have refused to identify the bodies which are currently with the police in the area.

Some injured persons pictured above

Some of the injured who were rushed to Salaga Government Hospital and the Tamale Teaching Hospital are responding to treatement.

There has been a long-standing chieftaincy dispute over who is the rightful ruler of the Kafaba and Kalampor traditional areas with people of the Kalampor contesting the kingship of the overlord. 

There was a scheduled enskinment of a sub-chief in Kafaba on Sunday, May 29, which made residents of Kafaba conclude that the shooting was in protest of the event.