Amadu Hamza, the MCE of Bawku, says security personnel in Bawku in the Upper East Region will henceforth “shoot and kill” anyone who would want to destabilise the peace of the Municipality.
He said, “In fact, [when] the soldiers and the police come out, they are coming out fully; they’ll shoot and kill anyone they see on the road trying to disturb the peace of Bawku.”
“They have the power to do that [shoot and kill] and so while they do that, you don’t sit somewhere and say it’s against human rights. Go to the court and face the soldiers, they will also reach in the court because minimal use of force is allowed in international law,” Hamza told Maxx Empire TV, a Binduri- based TV station on Wednesday (12 January).
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There have been renewed chieftaincy clashes in Bawku which led to the loss of lives and the destruction of properties.
Sporadic shootings were heard in parts of the town prior to the renewed clashes following attempts to perform the final funeral rites for a chief.
Authorities have since put in place measures aimed at securing lives and properties in the Bawku Municipality.
Two killed
Two individuals have been shot dead in recent shootings in the Municipality following renewed volatile security situation in the community.
Three others have sustained injuries, medical officials have told Asaase News.
Confirming the development to Asaase News on The Big Bulletin on Tuesday (11 January), Hamza said the first victim died Monday evening whilst the second person passed away on Tuesday.
“We are yet to know the individuals who carried out these shootings and that’s why the police are into a full investigation to unravel the people behind these incidents. I don’t think this is an act of terrorism, it is definitely part of the conflict. With the incident that happened last night (10 January), two people were arrested and are currently in police custody,” Amadu stated.
New policy
Meanwhile, in a statement dated 10 January 2022, the Upper East Regional Security Council (REGSEC) said it has banned pillion riding involving men in the Bawku Municipality.
The new directive said men are barred from carrying their fellow men on the same motorcycle in the conflict zone.
Women, per the release issued, are, however, allowed to carry fellow women only on the same motorcycle.
The REGSEC added that the new directive has been enforced after a critical examination of the security situation in Bawku.
The security council recommended an increased presence of the security agencies in the township, especially, in suburbs such as the GOIL and Total filling stations areas.
Recently, the government through the ministry of interior imposed a curfew on Bawku Municipality and its environs.
The imposition followed advice from the Upper East Regional Security Council after recent threats of insecurity in the area.
In a statement, the minister called on the chiefs, elders, opinion leaders, youth and other citizens of Bawku and its environs to exercise restraint as the government works to settle differences to ensure peace.
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