A long-standing family dispute over a piece of land took a horrific turn on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, leaving two people dead and two others in police custody.
he Upper West Regional Police Command has launched a full-scale investigation into the violent clash, which has left the local community in a state of shock as they usher in the New Year.
Confirming the casualties in an official briefing, the Regional Police Commander, DCOP Francis Yiribaare, expressed deep regret over the loss of life, describing the escalation of the family feud as a preventable tragedy.
The violence erupted in the late afternoon of Tuesday when members of the same family, reportedly divided over the ownership of a specific plot of land, transitioned from verbal arguments to a physical confrontation.
“This is a very unfortunate situation here. We all have the information that just in the latter part of the day yesterday, there was a clash of the family over a piece of land,” DCOP Yiribaare stated.
Upon receiving distress calls, the police command activated its Quick Response Team (QRT).
However, the speed of the violence outpaced the arrival of the authorities. By the time the QRT reached the scene, the disputed land had become a crime scene.
“On arrival, we discovered that the clash had gone too far, resulting in the death of one person right on the spot,” the Regional Commander revealed.
A second victim was discovered alive but unconscious amidst the chaos. Despite the efforts of the police to provide a rapid medical evacuation, the injuries proved too severe.
“One that we met at the scene was also unconscious and was immediately rushed to the hospital, but unfortunately, he also passed,” DCOP Yiribaare added, bringing the total death toll to two.
Forensic teams and investigators spent the night and the early hours of the next morning combing the area for evidence.
The Commander noted that the investigation has been aided by the willingness of local residents to provide information.
“The general public has been very cooperative since we started. We have processed the crime scene, and the management team covered and processed every particle that mattered in the issue,” he said.
Two suspects have been secured by the police so far:
- Suspect One: Currently on admission at a regional health facility, receiving treatment for injuries sustained during the clash while under heavy police guard.
- Suspect Two: Apprehended in a dawn raid this morning and currently held in a police detention facility.
“So far, one person is on admission but under police guard as a suspect, under arrest. We have one other individual who was also arrested in the later part of the dawn of this morning and is also in detention,” the Commander confirmed.
A major road passing through the vicinity of the clash was temporarily cordoned off to preserve the integrity of the crime scene and prevent further reprisal attacks. DCOP Yiribaare assured the public that traffic would be restored shortly.
“We are still processing a few issues and once that is done, we should be able to open it up,” he assured.
Beyond the immediate legal action, the Commander used the tragedy as a stark reminder of the dangers of bypassing lawful dispute resolution mechanisms. He urged families to use the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) systems or the traditional councils rather than resorting to “jungle justice”.
“I want to encourage the family to continue to resort to the police for every other issue surrounding this land or to the locals for a very peaceful resolution of the matter,” he advised. “In matters like this, we should try to use peaceful means rather than violence. In so doing, we continue to preserve the peace and stability of the region and also create a safer community for development and social activities to go on.”
The Police have vowed that the perpetrators of the violence will face the full rigours of the law.
“We are leaving no stone unturned in getting to the bottom of it and ensuring that justice takes its own course,” DCOP Yiribaare concluded.
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