The West Gonja Municipal Security Council, (MUSEC) chaired by the Savannah Regional Minister, Saeed Muhazu Jebreel has banned two kinsmen currently holding themselves as chiefs of Damongo and their supporters from celebrating this year's Fire Festival.

The festival commences on Wednesday, August 18, in the regional capital, Damongo.

The two, Budanwura Moro and Abuasewura Kelle Seidu, are allegedly being backed by Yagbonwura and Tindaana respectively.

The directive which was issued after an emergency MUSEC meeting on Tuesday also directed Yagbonwura Sulemana Tutumba Boresa II not to mark the 2021 Fire Festival due to his alleged association with one of the two rivals.

The Fire Festival is an annual festival that is marked by Muslims mostly in the Northern part of the country.

It would be recalled that after the demise of the late Chief of Damongo, Jakpa Lemu Tutumba I, in 2016, two rival kinsmen, Budanwura Moro and Abuasewura Kelle Seidu emerged to be enskinned as Chief of Damongo.

The two were subsequently skinned by two different factions for the same skin, hence leaving the regional capital without a substantive traditional head.

With the case still in court for determination, the Municipal Security Council has warned the two individuals not to embark on any form of celebration as the police will be deployed to the municipality to ensure order.

Speaking after the Council sitting, the acting Chairman of MUSEC, Saeed Jebreel described the situation as worrying and a hinderance to development.

"MUSEC, therefore, has no choice but to enforce the security measures to prevent any possible unforeseeable security breaches between the two rivals.

He stated that "the feuding factions in the Damongo chieftaincy dispute should not celebrate the occasion and if they dare, the law is there to work. We have no option left than to ask the two rivals to stay away completely from the 2021 fire festival including the King himself because he has one or so roles in there and it is for law and order in Damongo".

The Minister also hinted that future decisions by the council on the matter would be stiffer including an outright ban of the festival until the problem at hand is resolved by the Northern Regional House of Chiefs.