Ghana's Ministry of Defence says its intelligence indicates there is a significant arms movement into the three regions of the north.

This stark revelation comes in the wake of latest ethnic clashes in Bimbilla, which has so far claimed five lives, including that of the paramount chief of the Nanumba North District town, Naa Andani Dasana.

“We’ve had worrying information about guns that are coming into the three regions from the south, from Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire and I am surprised that we are talking about poverty and yet we have the money to go and buy arms to kill ourselves”, said Defence Minister Mark Woyongo on Monday at a meeting with families of those who were killed in the attacks.

Many more were injured in the fighting which happened last week Thursday, said to have been triggered by disagreements over where to bury a rival chief in the town.

The Defense Minister, who is also the acting Minister of Interior further revealed that intelligence failure on the part of security personnel at Bimbilla partly led to the killing of the town's overlord, Naa Andani Dasana, and four others.

He assured the family of Naa Andani Dasana that remains of the Bimbilla overlord will be released Wednesday for burial after autopsy.

Briefing security chiefs on circumstances surrounding the Bimbilla Naa’s murder, security officers said the chief was praying in front of one of his resting rooms in his palace when unknown assassins opened fire on two men in the chief’s living room and killed them instantly.

According to police officers, the assassins subsequently followed up to the chief’s bedroom and killed him there.

“In the chiefs living room, I counted as many as 18 bullet holes...There are bullets holes in the chiefs bedroom and other rooms as well. Blood stains from the chief and the two others that were killed are still visible”, reports Joy News’ Seth Kwame Boateng.

Member of Parliament for the area, Dominic Nitiwul, Deputy Interior Minister, James Agalga and the Inspector General of Police were present at a briefing by police officers on Monday.

Police said the attackers had lived the Bimbila Naa’s palace for months before murdering commiting the crime.

The Defense Minister said he is certain the perpetrators of the heinous crime were contracted to kill the the Bimbilla overlord.

So far 17 people have been apprehended in connection with the death of the paramount chief, but Mark Woyongo believes more are still in hiding.

He has urged residents to be bold and point out the killers of the Naa Dasana.

Crime scene investigators remain on the ground as security chiefs get to the bottom of the incident.