Three persons are confirmed dead and many more injured after communal violence erupted in the Bawku township of the Upper East Region. Sporadic gunshots were heard in parts of the town while several houses were torched leading to the breakdown of discipline after what police said was a foiled armed robbery attempt. Earlier in the day the people had peaceful marked the annual festival of (Samanpede) thanksgiving without incident. The Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, has since Tuesday morning been appealing to the national security set-up to intervene to bring under control what he described as a full scale war situation. As he spoke to Joy News, Ayariga said he had had to seek shelter behind a wall to avoid being caught up in the crossfire. He appealed passionately to power brokers and opinion leaders of the area to call their people and ask them to restrain themselves and give peace a chance. "I think that nobody is going to benefit from what is taking place. Houses are being burnt; I cannot tell how many men have fallen now, how many innocent lives have been hit; how many women have been rendered homeless so far. I can see the smoke rising everywhere; I am begging everybody who has an influence in Bawku; I'm begging Mamprusis, Kusasis, Bisas, Mosis to call their people and ask them to hold their fire. "I'm begging the government to move in with troops, move in with forces to be able to contain the situation. It is a major conflagration, the firing is everywhere ....The situation is serious, very, very serious. It's a war situation." Acting Director of Police Public Relations, ASP Kwasi Fori, has told Joy News that a reinforcement team of police and military personnel, have moved into the town and have mounted roadblocks and checkpoints to monitor movements. They have been fighting a major fire near the lorry station, while some are also protecting major installations such as the banks and hospital. They have so far taken 12 people into custody for their alleged role in the violence, which started on Monday between the Mamprusis and Kusasis. Emmanuel Bombande of the West Africa Network for Peace, told Joy News that there are indications that the violent clash could also be motivated by political considerations while combatants were using very sophisticated weapons. He said the issue of firearms regulations must be taken seriously if armed violence must be reduced to the bare. Bombande said the security forces must do all they can to take total control of the town and instill in the people that they cannot take the law into their own hands or undermine the peace and discomfort all others. Posted by Ike