The Bawku Central MP, Mahama Ayariga has condemned the killings that happened as a result of the clashes in the Upper East Region.

Speaking in an interview on Joy FM’s Midday News hours after reports of killings and destruction of properties, he said it is unfortunate that the incident has gotten to that point.

His comment comes after renewed fights between the feuding factions - Mamprusis and Kusasis - amid reports of gunshots, leading to the loss of lives and destruction of properties.

This notwithstanding, he said there is calm at Bawku currently as the constituents celebrate the annual festival.

He, therefore, urged the members of both sides of the conflict to sustain the peace in the municipality.

In a related development, Police in the North East Region have beefed up security in Nalerigu and Gambaga following the renewed chieftaincy violence between Mamprusis and Kusasis in Bawku in the Upper East Region.

According to the Police, the move is to forestall any reprisal as tensions continue to rise in the two Mamprusi towns following the killing of two natives of Gambaga and the arrest of elders of the Mamprugu king.

The legislator in this regard called on the law enforcement agencies deployed in the Bawku Municipality to increase the personnel on the ground sent to ensure the safety of the people in Bawku.

“The security agencies have provided the necessary cover for the celebration to take place and we are gathered here and the celebration is ongoing so there is calm here.

"I think that what we need is to sustain it so I will urge the law enforcement agencies to increase the personnel and men here and the resources for them to be able to effectively keep the peace,” he said.

Mr Ayariga further appealed to all fractions of the conflict to cooperate with the law enforcement agencies to find solutions to the problem at hand and ensure that “we go after the perpetrators of violence and then stop that from happening.”

He added that when the issue of violence is handled, all other matters will be dealt with appropriately.

“I think at this point we just have appeal to everybody to cooperate with the law enforcement agencies and then urged all sides not to use violence,” he said.

Meanwhile, officials of the National Peace Council dispatched to Bawku to aid in mediation efforts in ending the chieftaincy conflict have returned to Accra after being caught in a crossfire of the warring factions.