A fresh wave of ethnic violence has erupted in the raging Bawku skirmishes in the Upper East Region, with a gruesome gun attack in the Binduri District resulting in the death of a man believed to be of Mamprusi origin.
The assailants, alleged to be Kusasi bandits, shot and killed the victim near Atuba, a suburb of Binduri Central, before setting his body and motorcycle ablaze.
Security sources confirmed the incident but refrained from releasing the identity of the deceased, citing ongoing investigations.
The motive behind the killing remains unverified; however, preliminary assessments suggest a direct link to the protracted Bawku chieftaincy conflict, which continues to fuel deep-rooted animosity between the Mamprusi and Kusasi ethnic groups.
This violent act occurred less than 24 hours after the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, visited Bawku and met with the Bawku Naba, Asigri Abugrago Azoka II.
During the visit, the IGP appealed for strengthened cooperation between traditional leaders and security agencies to restore calm.
The visit followed a petition by the Kusaug youth, who accused some police officers of bias and misconduct in the region.
Tensions have remained high in the Binduri District following the recent decision by the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mubarak, to lift the ban on motorbike usage.
This policy shift was met with mixed reactions, as motorbikes are frequently used in hit-and-run style attacks across the conflict-prone areas.
Adding to the complexity, the IGP’s visit included an unusual act of reconciliation, during which he reportedly apologized to the Kusasis despite documented instances of attacks on police officers and destruction of police facilities by armed factions linked to the ethnic group.
In response to the latest killing, the Bawku chapter of the Mamprugu Youth Association (MAYA) strongly condemned the attack and called on the government to immediately deploy additional security forces to Binduri.
They also urged a reinstatement of the motorbike ban to prevent further escalation.
MAYA is pressing the Member of Parliament for Binduri, Mahmoud Issifu, to urgently intervene and propose tangible measures that will safeguard lives and restore law and order in the area.
The Bawku conflict, rooted in a decades long chieftaincy dispute between the Mamprusi and Kusasi ethnic groups, has flared up repeatedly despite numerous peace efforts.
Each resurgence of violence claims more lives, deepens ethnic divisions, and hampers development in the affected communities.
With the latest killing, fears are mounting that the situation in Binduri and surrounding areas may deteriorate further unless decisive action is taken to restore calm and ensure justice for victims.
