Two district chief executives (DCEs) in the Upper East region, at the weekend, escaped death narrowly in a shooting incident occasioned by an ambush on the Nangodi-Teli road by unknown attackers. The chief executives were returning from a short meeting at Bolgatanga, the regional capital, at about 8:30 p.m.

The two DCEs are Bawku West, Mr. Moses Apiaah, and Bawku East, Mr. Rahaman Gumah.

According to the police, the regional minister, Mr. Mahami Salifu, had encountered a similar event last year on the same road.

Sources close to the public relations office of the regional police headquarters said Mr. Gumah, during the shooting, jumped out of his car and ran into the bush, while Mr. Apiaah, who had one of his vehicle tyres blown out, also ran into the bush to Nangodi near Bolgatanga where he boarded another vehicle to the Bolgatanga central police station where he lodged a complaint.

No suspect has since been apprehended.

Meanwhile, the regional police command has established a task force to comb the area for the criminals to be apprehended for justice to take its course.

The public relations officer, Mr. Thomas Abangyo, added that AK 47 assault rifles and pellets were discovered at the scene. He said the regional police command is therefore appealing to the general public to aid them source information in order to combat the recurrence of such incidents.

The Chronicle learnt that the shooting incident was part of the recent chieftaincy dispute between the Kusasis and Mamprusi settlers in the area that has claimed so many lives.