Twenty persons have been arrested in connection with the Buipe chieftaincy fracas that injured six persons and claimed the life of Dramani Mahama Jinapor, younger brother of the current Buipe Paramount Chief last Monday. The suspects, according to security sources, are to be transferred to the regional capital, Tamale, where they would be put before court. They are expected to appear in court today. Another person identified only as Atta, reported to be one of the bodyguards of the Buipe Chief, Salamawura Mahama Abdulai Jinapor, who was also attacked, is said to be in critical condition and on admission at the Tamale Teaching Hospital. There is however heavy security presence in the area to curtail any further clashes. The deceased was allegedly sent by the Paramount Chief to lead a team of revenue collectors to the Bupei Market to collect tolls, when he was ambushed and murdered in cold blood by a group of assailants believed to be members of one of the chieftaincy gates. His attack and subsequent death allegedly brought about intensive exchange of gunfire between sympathizers of the deceased and the attackers. Meanwhile, several hundreds of women and children were seen fleeing the Bupei town for safety when DAILY GUIDE visited the area yesterday. The DCE for Central Gonja, Yakubu Zakaria, who confirmed the incident to DAILY GUIDE, appealed to residents of the area, particularly women and children, to remain calm as the matter was being resolved, saying he was in Tamale for some official duties at the time the incident occurred and was hinted by some members of the District Security Committee (DISEC). He has also assured the people of security reinforcement from the Regional Police Command, should there be signs of an escalation. Meanwhile, information available to this paper indicates that an emergency Regional Security Council (REGSEC) meeting to be chaired by the Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, has been called to find ways of ending the protracted chieftaincy clashes in the Northern Region. Source: Daily Guide