Bawku witnessed another tragic incident on Saturday, November 2, as one more person was killed and his vehicle burnt to ashes, triggering sporadic gunfire in the area.
The victim, identified as Maadi, a commercial driver on the Bolga-Bawku route, was attacked while en route to Bolgatanga. This brings the death toll from recent clashes in the region to 21.
The violence, which had shown signs of abating, flared up again following the return of Alhaji Seidu Abagre, a rival chief who had been in exile since February 2023. Abagre had fled Bawku after an arrest warrant was issued against him following his disputed installation as chief in Nalerigu.
However, a High Court in Kumasi quashed the warrant on October 17, 2024, paving the way for his return. Abagre’s arrival on October 26 reignited the long-standing chieftaincy dispute, leading to renewed gunfire that left two dead and several others injured. The community is now gripped by heightened tensions and fears of further violence.
In response to the unrest, authorities have imposed a curfew from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm, with security forces actively enforcing the restrictions to maintain order.
