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A Senior High School student, aged 18, who was shot in the Bolgatanga chieftaincy clash, was pronounced dead at the Tamale Teaching Hospital in the Northern Region.

The 18-year-old man, who is identified as Mohammed Sumaila, a resident of Tanzui in Bolgatanga, died three days after he sustained gunshots during the deadly clash, an issue, eyewitnesses blamed on 'reckless shooting' by the security forces. The death toll in the recent chieftaincy dispute has increased to three.

According to eyewitness account, the deceased was on board on a motor tricycle on the route between the feuding royal gates when he was shot by the military and police on the suspicion of carrying guns to facilitate the riots.

The Assembly Man for the Tanzui/Zorbisi Electoral Area, Samson Ahithophel Atinga, who expresesed frustration during an interview with Peace news, said: "we are really devastated. His mother, father and relatives are very sad. We will follow the right process to find out why these security men killed our innocent brother".

He describes the demise of the student as unfortunate and bizarre, saying the deceased had no interest in the chieftaincy affairs. "And the military men and police just killed him for no cause", he said, stressing the action of the security was unprofessional at its worst.

Mr. Atinga disclosed the death of the 'innocent' schoolboy was likely to incur the wrath of the bereaved family, and advised the security to act professionally in the discharge of their duties on the chieftaincy riots.

He assured the bereaved family would follow the due process to ensuring justice was done to the death of the Tanzui native, saying he had advised the youth of the area to drop an earlier decision of going to war with the security following the callous shooting of the student.

When contacted, the Bolgatanga Municipal Police Commander, Superintendent Samuel Punobyin, confirmed the death of the 18-yr-old man was linked to the chieftaincy dispute, but refused to comment on the security careless shooting during the clash.

"You see, when something like this happens, I have to seek permission from the Regional Commander before I can speak to the media. I'm aware of the boy's death but I can't give details. Permission must be granted by the superiors", Superintendent Punobyin told Peace Fm Upper East Regional Correspondent Francis Dabre Dabang in a telephone conversation.

Meanwhile, the Upper East Regional Minister, Rockson Ayine Bukari, issued a statement, imploring the feuding royal gates to bury their differences and work together in peace and unison for a smooth development of the Atulbabisi community and the entire Bolgatanga.

"I wish to call on all the factions to remain calm and to allow the security agencies to investigate and bring the perpetrators to book. You must therefore cooperate with them and allow the laws of the country to take their own cause", the Regional Minister noted in a statement copied to Peace news.

The body of the deceased is lying at the mortuary of the Tamale Teaching Hospital for autopsy.