Police launch manhunt for 7 after deadly Bunkprugu violence

Bunkprugu police have intensified their search for seven individuals after a deadly spate of violence erupted during a contentious chieftaincy ceremony. Melchizedek Babotin Musah and six others are the prime suspects in the recent unrest. The violence broke out on Saturday when Musah was allegedly installed as a rival chief by members of the Jamong Family, despite a court injunction prohibiting the ceremony.

The situation escalated later that day as rival factions clashed, resulting in a woman's death and a soldier sustaining a gunshot wound. The injured soldier was transported to Bolgatanga for medical care. The perpetrators fled Bunkprugu following the incident and are now the focus of the ongoing manhunt. The dispute between the Jamong and Jafouk families has been simmering for decades, with the Jamong Family seeking to remove the incumbent chief, Naa Abuba Nasinmong of the Jafouk Family.

The National House of Chiefs had previously ruled in favor of the Jamong Family, directing them to engage the Mamprugu Overlord for traditional remedies. However, Naa Nasinmong has appealed the decision, adding complexity to the situation. The recent violence has reignited concerns about the potential for further unrest if the competing claims to the Bunkprugu chieftaincy are not resolved through proper legal and traditional channels.