Police Arrest 15 Suspects Over The Bloody Clash In Battor Township
The five people including a Battor citizen who is the chief of Havorkope in Dzemeni in the South Dayi District have been shot dead while several others have sustained various degrees of injuries
Freeman Koryekpor 
A total of fifteen (15) suspected persons were arrested by the police over the bloody violence which resulted to the killing of five persons at Battor township in the North Tongu District of the Volta Region on Friday December 16, 2022.
The five people including a Battor citizen who is the chief of Havorkope in Dzemeni in the South Dayi District have been shot dead while several others have sustained various degrees of injuries.
The bloody incident which occurred on Friday December 16, 2022, follows a clash between some disgruntled members of the Dzekle Royal Family of Kpeli and the stool father of the Battor Traditional area in the North Tongu District of the Volta Region.
The incident which has sparked insecurity, tension and confusion in Battor Traditional Area and its adjoining communities allegedly happened after the alleged destoolment of the paramount chief of the Battor Traditional area.
At a press conference held on November 27, 2022, the stool father, Zikpitor Korsi Hottor announced that he has destooled Paramount Chief of the Battor Traditional Area, Togbega Patamia Dzekley VII.
He alleged that the paramount chief had breached customs and traditions of the Battor Traditional Area.
Sadly, during a gathering on Friday December 16, 2022 to process for the firing of musketry in the Battor township ahead of a annual Hogbeza festival, aggrieved supporters of the destooled paramount chief allegedly clashed with some supporters of the stool father resulting in five deaths and several persons being injured.
Several more people are in a critical condition in Battor Roman Catholic Hospital.
The victims are believed to be between 30 and 66 years old.
The resources revealed that the suspects who were arrested were sent to the police cells at Ho and Sogakope.
However, the police and military personnel were reported to have taken over the Battor township. The police and military deployed to the town had reduced the amount of trouble or violence in the area.
The dead bodies of people have been deposited at the Battor Mortuary facility for post-mortem examination.
It would be recalled that the Volta Regional Security Council (REGSEC) and North Tongu District Security Committee (DISEC) have jointly placed injuction on this year's celebration of annual Hogbeza festival.
The one page letter which was signed by the North Tongu District Assembly Coordinator, Mr Emmanuel Layea Tetteh was distributed to the Paramount Chief of Battor Traditional Area, Togbega Patamia Dzekley VII, the Battor Traditional Council, Paramount Stool Father of Battor Royal Stool, Zikpuitor Korsi Hottor, the Chairman of 2022 Battor Hogbeza Festival Planning Committee, Mr Doe Kpeli.
The letter reads in part " l wish to inform your office that following the developments in the Battor Traditional Area and a subsequent review at the Volta Regional level on November 30, 2022, in Ho, the Volta Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has recommended that an injunction be placed on the 2022 Battor Hogbeza Festival and its related activities."
The letter continued that; "Volta Regional Security Council and North Tongu District Security Committee (DISEC) look forward to the cooperation on the above stated position in the interest of the general peace and security of the area.
According to the letter, "the court processes have commenced in respect of same to be duly served on all the parties."
