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Moses Bukari Mabengba, Northern Regional Minister, says the media do not cross-check sources and facts of news, especially in conflict areas of the region before publication thus exacerbating the situation. He said the situation whereby radio stations in Accra allow people to call into their studios from conflict prone area in the Northern region to report on conflict without the radio stations cross-checking from appropriate authorities to confirm such claims was derailing efforts at maintaining peace in the region. He cited an instance in which an individual, who claimed to be the chief of Nakpanduri called into an Accra-based station and alleged that the regional minister was complicit in issues that had resulted in tribal clashes between Kokombas and Bimobas, which broke out last Monday. Mr Mabengba made the complaint at a meeting with journalists in Tamale on Saturday before leading a Regional Security Council delegation to embark on a tour of Kpamale and Nakpanduri communities in the Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo District where tribal clashes broke last Monday between Kokombas and Bimobas following disagreements over extension of a parcel of land belonging to a basic school at Kpamale. Nakpanduri and Kpamale are Kokomba and Bimoba neighbouring communities respectively in the Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo District, which until last Monday�s incident had recorded no conflict. The new demarcation of the land by the Nakpanduri Chief, which was being contested by his Kpamale counterpart, resulted in the clashes. Even though the security agencies responded swiftly and brought the situation under control, three people were killed. Four others sustained gunshot wounds and over 90 houses built mostly with mud and thatch roofing were burnt down. Police personnel in the district have arrested one person and retrieved two locally manufactured guns while six other suspects are still on the run. The Regional Minister reminded radio stations, especially those based in Accra, to be mindful of the consequences of their broadcast and asked them to promote peace in the Northern region. He asked the offending media houses to adhere to journalistic principles in the execution of their duties. He also asked some of the Northern Regional correspondents of Accra-based radio stations to verify their facts from appropriate authorities before reporting since some of them produce unconfirmed reports while others report as if they witnessed such incidents. Mr Mabengba said he was not a tribalist and could not fan tribal conflicts, assuring that he would continue to work to promote the supreme interest of the region and its people.