Fresh Violence Erupts In Bawku, Claims One Life
One person has been killed and several others injured following renewed clashes in Bawku, Upper East Region, on Wednesday afternoon. The private residence of the Bawku Divisional Police Commander, ACP Adamu Seidu, was also set on fire during the violence.
According to Joy News, the incident started when one of the factions in the town’s long-standing chieftaincy dispute allegedly demanded that women from the opposing faction leave the market where they were trading. A scuffle broke out, leading the police to intervene. However, some youth reportedly opened fire on the police, prompting officers to return fire.
The exchange of gunfire resulted in the death of a civilian and left two others critically injured. Following the shooting, radicalized youth are said to have retaliated by attacking and setting fire to the police commander’s private residence. It remains unclear if anyone was inside the house at the time.
Further reports indicate that a police barracks was also attacked, and a police vehicle was torched, forcing an evacuation of personnel from the barracks. Tensions remain extremely high in Bawku, and security forces are working to restore calm.
Neither the police nor the Upper East Regional Security Council have officially commented on the incident.
Source: MyJoyOnline