Bloodshed in Kpandai as rival chieftaincy factions clash over gravel pit

A violent confrontation between supporters of two rival chiefs in Kpandai, Northern Region, has left two men fighting for their lives and a trail of charred machinery in its wake.

The bloody skirmish, which erupted on Saturday, 7th February 2026, was triggered by a bitter territorial dispute over a gravel pit currently being utilised for the rehabilitation of the Dobong community road.

The conflict reached a breaking point when an attempt to extract materials for the infrastructure project turned into a pitched battle.

According to eyewitness accounts, the violence escalated rapidly as supporters from the Nkanchina and Nana Ntosah factions faced off with lethal weapons.

The roots of the violence lie in conflicting claims of land ownership.

The witness explained that the Nkanchina chief had formally granted permission for the extraction of gravel to facilitate the Dobong road works. However, this authority was challenged by another local leader, Nana Ntosah, who allegedly moved to forcibly halt the operations.

The situation spiralled out of control when Nana Ntosah reportedly dispatched heavy machinery to the site to seize control.

“Nana Ntosah reportedly sent payloaders to the site, but supporters of the Nkanchina chief resisted the move and prevented the equipment from operating,” the witness reported, describing the moments before the violence began.

The ensuing chaos saw the use of cutlasses and fire, leading to injuries and property damage:

• Human Toll: Two individuals sustained severe cutlass wounds and were rushed to the Kpandai District Hospital, where they remain under medical supervision.
• Arson: Six motorbikes belonging to workers and supporters were doused in petrol and set ablaze during the height of the riot.
• Property Damage: Operations at the gravel pit have been completely suspended following the destruction of equipment and the onset of hostilities.

A swift deployment by the Kpandai District Police Command was necessary to restore a fragile peace and prevent the violence from spreading to the main township.

Armed officers have since cordoned off the gravel pit and the Dobong road project site to deter further incursions.

The Northern Regional Security Council (REGSEC) is expected to convene an emergency meeting to address the underlying chieftaincy tensions that have long simmered in the area.