In 2018, unidentified gunmen assaulted the agricultural settlement of Dissah in the North Gonja District of the Savannah Region, uprooting Abu Bakug's whole family of roughly 10 people.
His home, food, motorcycles, and other belongings were all set on fire as well.
At midnight, while everyone was in bed, the attack took place. His family was awakened by the sound of intermittent gunfire coming from various directions, and they all ran for cover in the nearby jungle.
Mr. Bavug, who appeared depressed and scared, said that while the intermittent firing was happening, the gunmen had doused all the houses in fuel and set them on fire.
"When it happened, all of my wives and children fled into the woods." It took me a few days to look for them in the jungle after everything was under control. He told the Daily Graphic, "I lost roughly 10 animals, supplies, and other goods."
He claimed that after losing everything, he had to rebuild his life. The family is presently being helped and has a shelter in place, but they constantly have flashbacks to the trauma and experiences.
Salifu Mariam, a 50-year-old lady, experienced a similar traumatic experience as Mr. Bavug. Their entire home was destroyed by fire, and her kid was shot in the process.
"I used to trade and farm at the same time, but I lost everything in the fight, and things are now difficult for me," the woman claimed.
Clashes
About 1,000 members of the Dissah community were relocated following a localized attack, including Mr. Bavug and Madam Mariam.
On Saturday, June 13, 2018, a group of gunmen, numbering around 20, stormed the neighborhood at midnight and opened fire on it all. The incident was blamed on a chieftaincy feud.
Up until Sunday morning, when military and police officers intervened to restore order, the fighting persisted.
Numerous people were hurt as a result of the event, and thousands of cedis' worth of property was damaged. After the assault, the police detained 40 people and brought them before the court.
Impact
According to Asafo Bavug Salifu, an elder of the community, the tragedy has taken a toll on the lives of the locals.
"We didn't do anything wrong to warrant such an attack because we have been living together peacefully with everyone or any ethnic group over the years," he said, describing the event as an unprovoked attack.
We learned that the Dissah village was not the intended target of the attack, but that the gunmen intended to target the Salugu community after it had already occurred. But when they arrived in Dissah, one of them fell off the bike, leading the others to believe he had been attacked, and they decided to attack us," he said.
"It is having a bad effect on our children," Mr. Salifu said, "because whenever they hear sounds like gunshots, they start to run and yell that the assailants are coming."
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