One person has been charged with murder in a chieftaincy conflict in Bunkprugu that has continued to claim lives, disrupted development and defied peaceful solution since it began in 1980s.

The man, Tanko Tetteh is alleged to have been involved in the killing of one Baba Zoro, one of two people killed in an April 2015 clashes that followed a predictable pattern of burning houses and sporadic shootings.

The suspect fled to Togo and has been on police wanted list since 2015, the Northern region police have said.

Tanko Tetteh returned to the troubled town this year and was once again suspected to have been involved in the murder of a 51-year-old man during another round of violence on 28 January 2016.

This year’s first reported clashes also claimed two more lives, Dupak Lapak, 58, a farmer and Bawa Chanleep, 20, a tailor.

The suspect was arrested a few weeks ago but the police were awaiting instructions from the prosecuting authority, the Attorney-General.

An all-clear signal has been given, Northern Regional Police PRO, ASP Ebenezer Tetteh told Joy news. The suspect will face a murder charge which can attract a sentence of up to 25 years if found guilty.

At the bottom of the dispute in the conflict-raved town of Bunkrugu is one family, the Jamons, who are challenging the legitimacy of the chief of Bunkrugu who is with the Jafouk family.

Photo: Opinion leader of the Jamons, Elijah [R] Chief of Bunkrugu and head of the Jafouk family

Although the matter has been in court for years, no finality has been brought to the litigation. The use of the courts to resolve the dispute has not stopped the factions from engaging in acts of violence.

Investigations by Joy News into the chieftaincy conflict however has revealed that some people are bent on keeping the district in its war-torn state.

Relating to claims of invisible forces behind the conflict, the Bunkrugu DCE explained;

“If I call my brother now here in Bunpkurugu and ask him for school fees he will not get money for me. But if I call him and say we are expecting a possible attack from a particular clan, you will see money coming. They can even find ways of getting us guns to protect ourselves,” an incensed DCE told Seth.

Outgoing Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Limuna Muniru told Joy News’ Seth Kwame Boateng he believes these unseen persons are in Accra yet they are instigating the people of Bunkpurugu against each themselves.

The disappointed Minister said “you see the people, even what to eat is a problem but it is the invisible hands in Accra in prominent areas. They sit there and remote control the people and they kill themselves.”

These shadow parties won’t have their way forever, Alhaji Muniru believes and said they will “pay dearly for it.”