Attack on Bolgatanga-Walewale Highway Leaves Many Injured
On the night of January 11, 2025, tragedy struck on the Bolgatanga-Walewale Highway as a Garu/Kumasi-bound bus with registration number AS 9392-21 was ambushed near Pusu-Namong, a suburb of the Bolgatanga municipality in Ghana's Upper East Region. The attack, reportedly carried out by a group of armed individuals alleged to be Mamprusis, left numerous passengers injured, sending shockwaves across the region.
According to eyewitness accounts, the attackers, four in number, were clad in military camouflage and masks. They strategically blocked the highway using a heavy construction bulldozer, effectively trapping the bus and preventing the driver from escaping to safety. Once the bus was immobilized, the assailants opened fire on the passengers.
One of the victims, Ibrahim, who is currently receiving treatment at the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital, recounted the terrifying ordeal. Speaking to SMART Media Upper East on January 12, 2025, he explained that three of the attackers focused on firing at the passengers, while the fourth aimed at the driver, further intensifying the chaos.
The Bolgatanga-Walewale Highway and the Bolgatanga-Bawku-Pulmakuom stretch have increasingly become death traps for travelers due to heightened insecurity stemming from the protracted conflict in Bawku. This conflict, ignited by the illegal enskinment of a rival chief, Teacher Seidu Abagre, in November 2021, continues to fuel tension between the Kusaasi and Mamprusi communities.
The legitimate chief of Bawku, Naaba Asigiri Abugrago Azoka II, has long been recognized by the National House of Chiefs and the Kusaug Traditional Council. However, the contested enskinment has deepened the divisions and escalated violent incidents in the area, threatening peace and security.
Regional police authorities have launched an investigation into the attack, promising to bring the perpetrators to justice. Meanwhile, residents and travelers have called on the government and security agencies to intensify patrols and ensure the safety of commuters on these volatile routes.
The recent attack has sparked renewed calls for dialogue and peaceful resolution of the Bawku conflict to prevent further loss of lives and restore normalcy in the region.
Sources: SMART Media Upper East Tags: #KusaugEmpireTV #KusaugCulture #Bawku #Zebilla #Garu #Kusaas #Kusaasi #KusaugBuuri #Samanpiid
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