Personel of the Ghana Armed Forces
The Bawku Municipal Chief Executive, Amadu Hamza Zoogo, yesterday confirmed the shooting of three military officers at Bawku in the Upper East Region in renewed clashes in the area.
Speaking on JoyNews, the MCE said the feud was triggered by the recent shooting of a nomadic herdsman in one of the suburbs of Bawku.
He said one of the military officers was battling for his life, while the other two were also seriously injured.
Three other people were also feared dead from the exchange of gunfire between soldiers and some residents at Barbari-Buabula, a suburb of Bawku.
In the ensuing commotion, which lasted hours, a nine-year-old boy, a 16-year-old girl and an elderly were reportedly shot. Two others were also said to have sustained varying degrees of injuries in the course of the exchanges.
The soldiers, who are attached to the 11th Mechanised Infantry Batallion at Bazua, were said to be on an operation to sweep out miscreants in the area when they were reportedly met with resistance, which led to the exchange of gunfire.
The injured soldiers, who were first taken to the Bawku Presbyterian Hospital, and later to the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital, were eventually airlifted to the 37 Military Hospital, Accra, for further treatment in view of the severe nature of their injuries.
Arrests
Meanwhile, the Upper East Regional Police Command has arrested 18 suspects in connection with a murder of a horse trader, which allegedly triggered the renewed disturbances.
The suspects include Sally Abusanga, 15; Adams Ibrahim, 70; Tijani Abadeba, 58; Kasim Mohammed, 18; Tijani Sally, 41; Masawudu Bello, 30; Haruna Fafara, 27; Adam Abubakar, 41; and Haruna Fuseini, 20.
The rest are Adam Alhassan, 30; Nuhu Zaro, 45; Issah Mumuni, 35; Seiba Seidu 40; Awal Issah, 40; Abdulai Hamidu, 47; Osman Alhassan, 42; Ibrahim Amadu, 30; and Imoro Adams, 25.
The Public Relations Officer for the Command, ASP David Fianko-Okyere, confirmed that the arrests were connected with the murder of the horse trader at Gozezi.
The horse trader was said to have been killed by some unknown assailants after he was accompanied by another resident to move one of his horses from Widana to Bawku.
“We have arrested 18 people, and they are all under investigation… and they will be sent to court for further investigations.
“We are currently interrogating and screening these 18 people and preparing for further investigations,” he told Citi FM in an interview.
Caution
While urging the media to exercise caution in their reportage on the Bawku conflicts, ASP Fianko-Okyere indicated that the Police would charge the suspects based on evidence gathered.
He assured that calm had been restored to the community following efforts by the joint Police and Military team to ensure peace and order.
“A swoop was conducted, and we are screening them. Possibly, the evidence that we will get from them will determine the charges. So, let’s wait till we finish preparing the charges,” he urged.
On Monday, one person was reported dead while four others were arrested after a shooting incident in the community.
Security personnel were deployed into the town to prevent an escalation of the situation.
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