Calm has returned to two communities in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District of the Savannah Region following clashes between two ethnic groups.
An unconfirmed report indicates that seven persons have been hospitalized following clashes between settler farmers at Nasoyi and landlords at Gyantulpe.
The clashes were as a result of the performance of traditional rites by the Gyantulpe people who are mostly Gonjas.
According to reports, the Gyantulpe people tried to catch animals belonging to the Nasoyi people who are mostly settlers, leading to the clash.
A Journalist with Bole based radio station, Ngiligi FM, Mahama Haruna who narrated the incident to citinewsroom.com said that the resistance of one landlord in Nasoyi led to the clashes.
“The Incident happened in a community called Nasoyi, now we have this community called Gyantulpe. It is an indigenous community and they have this traditional, local rice they do once in a while, and when they are about to do it, they are allowed to catch these fowls from the surrounding community.”
“Nasoyi is not far from Gyantulpe, so the people of Gyantulpe have been going into Nasoyi to catch these fowls anytime they are about to perform these rites. The rites are performed for peace, unity, bumper harvest and against calamity in the area. One landlord protested and this resulted in a fight.”
The journalist, Mahama Haruna also reported that the violent clashes were brought under control due to the timely intervention of Police Officers from Sawla.
He, however, added that the security situation in the area is “still fragile” as they could be potential clashes between the two factions if the appropriate measures are not put in place.
“A number of people have been hospitalized but it is difficult to say if those people are from Gyantulpe or Nasoyi. The police have taken over the matter.”
“The Sawla police rushed in there to ensure there was calm. The situation is still fragile because there are fears the issue could still be turned to a full blown conflict between the two communities which are not far from each other,” the journalist added.