Bawku (U/E), May 4, GNA - Opinion leaders of the Kusasis in the Bawku Traditional Area have attributed the violence that broke out on April 30 at the cattle market to armed robbers who wanted to exploit the conflict in the area to rob people.

They said the incident was not based on ethnic conflict. This was contained in a statement signed by Mr. Thomas Abila and Alhaji Yakubu Azangbeogo members of the opinion leaders of the Kusasis. On that day, gunshots by unknown people believed to be armed robbers resulted in two persons losing their lives and injuries to several others.

Cattle that were sent to the market for sale were driven away by unknown people. The statement said it was so sad that the incident happened at a time that everybody was beginning to accept that peace had returned to Bawku.

In another development, the Bawku Municipal Coordinating Director, Mr. Yakubu Alhassan Abubakar, told the media that the violence was caused by armed robbers.

He said as a result of the violence, 38 cattle belonging to people who had brought the animals to the market to sell were stolen. Mr Abubakar said security personnel had so far retrieved 33 of the stolen cattle and two suspects had been arrested.