More than 500 thatched mud houses have been set ablaze following renewed conflict between the Chakosi and Bimoba ethnic groups in the Northern Region.

Reports indicate that the clashes in the Chereponi District started on the dawn of Friday, April 14, 2017, and have displaced hundreds of women and children.

No deaths have been reported but at least two people have sustained gunshots wounds, the reports indicate.

The impoverished Chereponi District is an ethnic conflict hotspot.

A teacher in one of the communities said the  Bimoabas raided houses of the Chokosis with guns, spears and sharpened sticks and set them on fire whiles they were still asleep amidst sporadic shooting.

The Bimobas allegedly extended the ambush to about five communities including Jagbanga, Jawari and Zanzori forcing all the chokosi residents to flee to Tosori and Kwabenakaposo near Wenchike.

The attackers have also fled crossing the Oti river to neighboring Togo.

Women and children were seen walking several miles fleeing the violence to unknown destinations.

“We are just moving from the place. We may go to the wenchike palace but for now we are just going to where we will have peace and think about our lives”, a female victim told Starr News in a local dialect.

Police and soldiers from Yendi, the divisional command, have been deployed and investigators were working to determine cause of the violence.

Two persons were butchered in February last year when Bimobas allegedly attempted to prevent the Chakosis from fishing in the kpempi river.

ASP Henry Amankwah, Chereponi District Police Commander confirmed the violence saying the two tribes have been living in fragile relationship following a protracted misunderstanding over land.

He said police in the area engaged members of the rival tribes in peace talks two months ago after picking intelligence of possible conflict.

ASP Henry said some Bimobas laid claim to the land and were violently preventing the chokosis from farming and fishing.

No arrest yet and security have taken over all the six communities despite reports that many have deserted the area.

The Chereponi District,  a known hotspot in the region has very few police personnel and anytime there is trouble security forces  have had to travel many hours on a very  bad road to maintain calm.