Bawku on edge again as students killed, MP’s residence burnt

Fresh violence has erupted in Bawku, intensifying an already volatile chieftaincy dispute that has plagued the area for years. Tensions flared following the recent killing of a Kusasi chief in Kumasi, which has reportedly triggered a series of revenge attacks both in Kumasi and Bawku.

In a disturbing turn of events on Saturday night, a student at Bawku Senior High School was allegedly pulled from his dormitory and fatally shot. Eyewitness accounts suggest the unknown assailants scaled the school’s perimeter fence to gain access. The victim, said to be of Mossi descent, is believed to have been mistakenly targeted as an associate of one of the chieftaincy factions.

The Ghana Police Service has yet to issue a formal statement on the killing.

That same night, the private residence of Bawku’s Member of Parliament and Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, came under attack. Armed individuals reportedly vandalized and set parts of the house ablaze. The extent of the damage remains uncertain, as investigations continue.

Across Bawku, residents have reported prolonged exchanges of gunfire in several neighborhoods over the past two nights. The resulting fear has forced many indoors, with some families seeking refuge in safer areas.

Security forces, including the military and police, are said to be ramping up operations in the municipality to contain the unrest and restore order.

The Bawku conflict, deeply rooted in a long-running chieftaincy dispute between ethnic factions, has claimed numerous lives over the years. Despite intermittent peace efforts, the situation remains fragile, with each violent episode threatening to ignite broader chaos.