Gunmen at Bimbilla in the Northern Region Thursday night killed three and injured at least seven more in what is widely suspected to be renewal of a raging violence linked to chieftaincy dispute.

Police confirmed the three were pronounced dead on arrival at the heavily constrained Bimbilla Hospital and seven were transferred to the Tamale Teaching Hospital.

It is unclear what ignited this latest violence after another last year where a woman was shot dead triggered a street protest by women demanding justice and an end to the unwarranted killings of women and children.

More than 15 people have been killed so far in the area.

Two families – Nakpa Naa and Naa Salifu Dawuni factions – have been struggling over the Bimbilla skin. The situation deteriorated when government last year ordered the burial of the late Nakpa Naa whose body had been seized and kept at a hospital following similar violence over place for his burial; and the enskinment of a regent by the faction.

According to police crime officer in the area, ASP Ebenezer, two unidentified attackers arrived on motorbikes at about 9.20pm and opened fire on a group of people sitting under an opened structure at the town centre.

Ten people went down in the sporadic shooting and the gunmen fled. Three were confirmed dead though reports say a little boy was later found dead.

The seven with fatal wounds waited for several hours due to unavailability of ambulance service before being taken to the Yendi Municipal hospital and later transferred to Tamale Teaching Hospital.

The incident happened near a police post and just about half an hour to curfew time. Police said security have been tightened but suggested tensions are running high and there could be another trigger.