Gunfire shattered the Homowo celebrations in Sowutuom on Saturday, August 30, 2025, leaving two people dead and several others injured in what residents described as a night of terror.
Eyewitnesses told Newsnetgh.com that chaos erupted shortly after a football game when gunshots rang out at a junction in the community.
“After the Chelsea game, we suddenly heard gunshots from the junction. For almost 30 minutes, bullets were flying everywhere,” one witness recounted, describing residents fleeing in panic.
Another added that “about five armed men stormed the area, shooting left, right, center,” leaving people scrambling for cover.
According to locals, the violence was sparked by a disagreement over the sprinkling of Kpokpoi, the traditional dish central to the Homowo festival. Members of the Dwenewoho community had attempted to perform the ritual in Sowutuom, but traditional leaders in the area reportedly resisted the move.
“The Sowutuom people insisted Dwenewoho couldn’t sprinkle here, but they refused to stop. That’s what started the fight,” a resident explained.
Among the dead are the Obrafor of Sowutuom and the son of the local chief, according to eyewitness accounts. The number of injured remains unclear, but several residents are said to have been caught in the crossfire.
Police were later deployed to restore order, but tensions remain high. By Sunday morning, many shops in Sowutuom stayed closed, with residents expressing fear that the clashes could reignite.
Authorities have yet to issue an official statement, but community leaders are calling for calm to prevent further bloodshed.
