Four Killed Within 24 Hours as Violence Flares in Upper East Region

A wave of violence has swept through parts of the Upper East Region, leaving four people dead, including two women, after a series of shootings within 24 hours.

The latest incident occurred around 6 a.m. on Saturday, October 25, along the Atuba road near Binduri, when gunmen reportedly ambushed and killed a man identified only as Azimbe.

Police sources indicate that Azimbe was the son of the late Kusasi chief who was murdered in Asawasi, Kumasi, in July this year.

The killings began early Friday morning, when a woman was gunned down shortly after stepping out to meet a colleague.

Later that evening, around 7 p.m., two armed men riding a motorbike reportedly shot and killed a man identified as Salam at a drinking spot in Garu.

At about 11 p.m., another woman was shot dead in Binduri, deepening fear and uncertainty across the region.

The latest dawn attack on Saturday has now brought the death toll to four in just a day.

Security forces have since intensified patrols in Bawku and its surrounding districts, areas already under a curfew and ban on arms due to recurring conflict.

Military personnel have reportedly arrested ten people in connection with the murder of the second woman in Binduri. Investigations are ongoing to determine whether the incidents are connected or form part of renewed communal tensions.

A senior regional security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the situation as “extremely volatile,” warning that any escalation could derail fragile peace efforts in the area.

The fresh violence has reignited fears among residents and cast a shadow over ongoing mediation efforts to restore calm in Bawku and its environs.

Community leaders and civil society actors are urging the government to reinforce peace-building initiatives and address the deep-rooted grievances fueling the long-standing conflict.

“The people of the Upper East have suffered enough. We need dialogue, justice, and consistent engagement, not just curfews,” one local elder told reporters.

The Bawku conflict, which has persisted for decades, has claimed numerous lives and disrupted social and economic activities across the region. The recent killings, security analysts warn, risk reopening old wounds and destabilising peace efforts ahead of the festive season.