SHOCK IN WA AS NIGHT SECURITY GUARD MURDERED; RESIDENTS RENEW CALLS FOR STRONGER SECURITY

The Wa Municipality in the Upper West Region has been thrown into fear and grief following the gruesome killing of a night security guard in the Dobile Electoral Area.

The victim, Yahya Issa, popularly known as Soja, was discovered dead in the early hours of Saturday, September 20. His lifeless body was found with a knife lying on his chest, his face smashed, and blood gushing from his forehead. Residents suspect that his attackers may have struck him with a concrete block.

Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Issah Nura Danwana, described the murder as “deeply disturbing,” stressing that security concerns have long troubled residents of Wa. He highlighted the lack of proper lighting in many parts of the municipality.

“Street lights remain a major issue. We have worked on 378 lights and repaired 166, but there is still a deficit of about 400. We are following up with the Ministry of Energy to ensure more lights are fixed. Many dark spots have been lit in recent weeks, but more needs to be done,” the MCE said.

However, he noted that lighting alone cannot explain the killing, especially since the crime scene was just 400 meters from a police station and close to the new market, raising questions about police response.

Assembly Member for the Dobile Electoral Area, Zakaria Ibrahim, confirmed that Issa worked as a night watchman at the Wa Regional Market. He expressed shock at the brutality of the murder, noting that, unlike previous killings in Wa, no body parts were removed in this case.

The police have conveyed the body to the Upper West Regional Hospital mortuary for autopsy and have launched investigations into the crime.

The killing has rekindled painful memories of similar attacks in Wa in 2022, when a string of murders targeting night security guards shook the municipality and prompted heightened police operations.

Now, residents fear history may be repeating itself. Many are demanding urgent and tougher security measures to prevent further bloodshed and restore peace of mind.