The feuding Chokosis and Bimoabas leaving at Bumburiga in the Chereponi district of the Northern region where a renewed clashes last month overfishing right displaced 500 agreed to ceasefire at an event on last Sunday which organized by the new DCE of Cherepon.
The two tribes have been at war for many years over fishing in the kpempi river, a water source to the River Oti near Togo and have now accepted to embrace peace and live in harmony.
Fighting escalated last year leading to bloodshed and in last month gunshots rang randomly and many were left homeless.
Sources in the hard to reach area said the violence begun at about 4:am in Laaritanga where many Bimoabas were severely beaten in a fight last year over fishing in the Kpempi river, a water head of the Oti river.
A teacher in one of the communities said the vindictive Bimoabas raided houses of the Chokosis with guns, spears and sharpened sticks and set them on fire whiles they were still asleep amidst sporadic shooting.
The Bimobas allegedly extended the ambush to about five communities including Jagbanga, Jawari and Zanzori forcing all the chokosi residents to flee to Tosori and Kwabenakaposo near Wenchike.
But after a month of intense dialogue and compromises the tribes decided to outdoor the outcome by displaying in a public gathering that they have ended all atrocities.
The gathering was held at Bumburiga and attended by paramount Chief of Bunkpurugu and Chief of Wanchiki who sent by paramount Chief of Chereponi, Opinion leaders, regional and district political Heads, District security chiefs and members of the public.
Speaking at the event, the District Chief Executive Tahiru Abdul Razak gave a winding sermon about peace and vehemently pleaded with the people to always eschew violence.
Tahiru preached that it was better to sweat in peace than to bleed in war and urged members of the two tribes to work at peace than to merely believe in it.
He thank traditional leaders of the tribes especially the paramount Chief of Bunkprugu and Chief if Wenchiki for their significant role during the arduous talks.
He revealed that the district assembly was still lobbying for relief items to help the victims who have agreed to return resettle.
The DCE also said the the assembly was working assiduously to ensure calm is restored in the troubled area.
According to him the assembly was ready to accept, welcome and assit individuals and groups whose intent is to restore peace.
He concluded by calling for forgiveness and cooperation and said all must be ambassadors of peace.
The deputy regional minister Solomon Boar lamented how the raging conflicts have battered their confidence at cabinet levels and leaving them almost voiceless.
He said the people cannot have development if they won’t stop fighting and sparking tensions.
He however commended the initiative and added the peace pact would be monitored for three month period after which he would plead with all chiefs in the Eastern Corridor of the Northern region to join hands to tackle another chieftancy and land strife at Sayeegu this time between two biomoba families.
