Information available to the Daily Statesman indicates that about four persons have been shot dead in the Bawku Municipality of the Upper East Region, while eight others have been wounded in the renewed chieftaincy clashes.
The incident occurred on Sunday at about 4:00 pm in Daduri, a suburb of Bawku, where some unknown persons attacked and shot at some persons engaged in CFA Franc currency trading.
Sources disclosed that sporadic gunshots were heard around the central business area of the town, leading to the killing of the four persons. The immediate cause of the shooting is not known.
Two out of eight persons wounded in the act were transferred to the Tamale Teaching Hospital for treatment, while the remaining six are receiving treatment at the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital and the Bawku Presbyterian Hospital.
Insecurity in Bawku has been a major concern since December 27, 2021, when there was gunfire in parts of the town following attempts to perform the final funeral rites of a chief who died about 41 years ago.
The violence resulted in a curfew being placed on the entire township and a ban on smock wearing. A ban was also placed on male pillion riders.
Thirteen persons have subsequently been arrested and airlifted to Accra following the violence.
The incident also resulted in heavy security deployment to communities within the municipality.
Recent ban
Meanwhile, the Upper East Regional Coordination Council has placed a ban on riding of motorbikes in Bawku and its environs. The ban does not affect tricycles.
Earlier in the year, on 11 January 2022, the Regional Coordinating Council banned pillion riding in the Bawku municipality and its environs, and directed that no male motorbike rider could pick another male on the same bike.
The ban, however, did not include female riders picking fellow females on the same motorbike. Also, it did not allow female riders to pick males on the same motorbike, all as part of measures to address the security situation in Bawku and its environs.
Murder of policewoman
In a related development, a Police officer has been shot dead amidst the resurgence of violence in the area.
According to the Police, Constable Regina Angenu, who was with the Paga Police Station, on Sunday paid a visit to her colleague, Constable Erasmus Enkson, of the Bawku Division.
The Police said they were attacked around 5:07 pm by unknown assailants, adding that the deceased was shot in the groin and died at Presbyterian Mission Hospital while undergoing treatment.
The body has been sent to Bolgatanga Regional Hospital for preservation and autopsy.
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