At least four people were killed after armed men on motorbikes opened fire in an open market Sunday in a village at Bunkurugu Yunyoo  district of the Northern region.

At least five more were critically injured including an 11-year old boy and a 14-year old girl in the attack at Najong Number 1.

A resident, Bagbin Yobat, told Joy News, panic broke out after loud gunshots were heard in the village while people were going about their business at after 5pm on the Sunday market day.

"They didn't know what was happening. Other people thought it was a knock-out that children play with.

"We don’t know where the people came from. We don't know who they were targeting. They just came and started shooting," he said.

The assailants immediately left while the injured were taken to Bindi and Nalerigu Baptist hospitals.

The police and military are patrolling the area following the attack.

The attack comes three days after the Police in Gambaga, in the East Mamprusi District of the Northern Region intercepted the transportation of ammunition.

The police during the Friday morning arrest found in a Nissan patrol vehicle, six pump action guns and 130 cartridges.

The vehicle was coming from the Tamale direction towards Namong village in the Bunkprugu-Yunyoo District where the market square tragedy has occurred.

Joy News' Hashmin Mohammed has observed that there is a discernable increase in violence in the region between November and March when the lands are dry.

He said some people use the lean farming season to settle scores.