Tamale, Feb. 23, GNA - Seven houses and three vehicles were burnt in renewed violence on Sunday between supporters of the NDC and the NPP in the Tamale Metropolis. The arson took place after the burial of one Abdul Rashid who was shot dead in a previous clash between the two parties last week. The destroyed vehicles include a Nissan pick-up with registration No.NR 2663 C, Mercedes Benz saloon car with registration NR 5005 C and a Yamaha motorcycle.

Mr Ofosu Mensah Gyeabour, Northern Regional Police Commander, who disclosed this in an interview with the GNA on Monday, said so far, two persons had been arrested in connection with the violence. He said the violence broke out after the police had provided security for the burial of the late Abdul Rashid at the Old Gulkpegu Cemetery. He said it was after the burial that the police had information that the road leading to Gumbihini, a suburb of Tamale where the deceased resided, had been blocked with stones, wood and other objects while some houses had been set ablaze.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Gyeabour said the police with the assistance of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) rushed to the area and brought the situation under control. He said the police and the military had intensified their patrols in the Metropolis and mounted several check points to search for weapons. He said police reinforcements from the Brong-Ahafo, Ashanti and Upper East Regions were being brought in to strengthen security in the Metropolis and restore law and order.

The Regional Police Commander appealed for cooperation from the public, the media, chiefs and opinion leaders to volunteer information to the police, which would lead to the arrest of the perpetrators of the violence. He urged the people not to politicise the situation, saying: "The police are arresting people purely on criminal grounds and not on the basis of whether one belonged to party A or party B".