BREAKING:One Dead, Two Injured in Renewed Bunkpurugu Chieftaincy Clash

Bunkpurugu, North East Region – September 7, 2026

Renewed chieftaincy violence has erupted in Bunkpurugu in the North East Region, leaving one person dead and two others with gunshot wounds.

According to preliminary information gathered from the area, three men were shot during sporadic gunfire linked to the protracted chieftaincy dispute on Sunday. One of the victims was confirmed dead, while the other two are receiving treatment.

The incident has created fear and panic in the township, with many residents fleeing for safety and businesses closing.

The North East Regional Police Command has been notified and security personnel have been deployed to the area to restore calm and prevent reprisal attacks. Police say investigations have commenced to establish the circumstances leading to the shooting and to apprehend those responsible.

This latest violence follows a long history of chieftaincy-related tensions in Bunkpurugu.

The dispute, primarily between the Jafog and Jamong royal gates over the legitimate occupant of the Bunkpurugu skin, has been before the courts and the House of Chiefs for years but continues to trigger deadly clashes from time to time.

In similar past clashes, houses have been torched and lives lost, with security forces often deployed to enforce curfews and maintain order.

Local authorities and opinion leaders are appealing to both factions to exercise restraint and allow due process to take its course.

They are urging residents to cooperate with security agencies and provide information that will lead to the arrest of the perpetrators.

The District Security Council is expected to hold an emergency meeting while the body of the deceased has been deposited for preservation and autopsy