Family of the late overlord of the Nanumba Traditional Area is asking government to release for burial by Thursday the body of the murdered chief.

The family insists the manner in which the late overlord was murdered required that he be buried as soon as possible and in conformity with Islamic tradition.

Naa Andani Dasaana was murdered together with four others in a siege at his palace on Thursday by men said to be in uniforms.

They were alleged to have opened fire on the Overlord, shooting and killing him and four others.

Several others were injured in the raid, including a four month old baby.

The raid is said to have been triggered by the death of Nakpaa-Naa Salifu Dawuni, one of two persons contesting the Bimbila skin.

The two factions are in disagreement over where to bury Nakpaa-Naa Dawuni. There have been many other disturbances in the township as a result of this disagreement.

Some 17 suspects have so far been arrested in connection with the murder.

On Monday, the Defence Minister Mark Woyongo who is also acting as the Interior Minister together with the MP for the area, Dominic Nitiwul, and the IGP Mohammed Ahmed  Alhassan paid a visit to the Palace where the Overlord was murdered, to commiserate with family members.

Elders at the palace are still mourning the death of the overlord who they describe as very peaceful and law abiding.

Joy News' Presidential Correspondent, Seth Kwame Boateng reported one of the elders, Nantonga Azindow who is the Kpanti Naa as saying, that two of the suspects should be thoroughly investigated for their roles in the incident.

The Kpanti Naa told the minister and the police chief that one of them openly threatened the late chief with death adding, the assailants were suspected to have been camped in the house of the other suspects from where the shots were fired into the palace.

Both suspects are among the 17 arrested.

The Defence Minister Mark Woyongo assured the elders of the authorities' commitment to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators.

"Wherever the perpetrators are they will be arrested", he assured, and implored the residents to volunteer information that would lead to the arrest of the perpetrators.

Mark Woyongo said the authorities have picked up intelligence indicating that people are bringing ammunitions from neighboring countries into the three northern regions and stated that all vehicles that enter the regions would now be searched as a precautionary measure.

He told the residents that poverty is the common enemy in the area and appealed to them to unite in the fight against poverty.

On the release of the body, the Defence minister said an autopsy will be conducted on the body on Tuesday and a decision would be made thereafter.