Tensions have once again boiled over in Bawku, Upper East Region, resulting in the death of one person and serious injuries to two others following a violent confrontation on Wednesday afternoon.
What began as a disagreement in the town’s marketplace quickly escalated into chaos.
Reports suggest that a group linked to one of the feuding factions in the ongoing chieftaincy dispute ordered women from the opposing side to vacate the market. This sparked a scuffle that drew in police officers trying to calm the situation.
But what followed was far from calm. Gunshots rang out as some individuals allegedly opened fire on the police.
The officers returned fire, and in the exchange, one civilian lost their life while two others were critically injured. The aftermath of the shootout only deepened the tension.
In what appears to be an act of retaliation, a group of irate youth later attacked the private residence of the Bawku Divisional Police Commander, ACP Adamu Seidu, setting it ablaze.
It remains unclear if anyone was inside the house when it was torched.
The violence didn’t stop there. A nearby police barracks also came under attack, with reports indicating that a police vehicle was set on fire.
Fearing further escalation, police authorities were forced to evacuate personnel from the barracks.
Security forces are now working to restore calm in the area, but the atmosphere remains charged, with deep-rooted tensions threatening to push the town further into unrest.
