Killings in Bawku continues, Kola nut Exporter killed

Bolgatanga, April 8, GNA - The killings in Bawku continues unabated as unidentified assailants pull out a kola nuts and onions exporter from a truck, on which he was travelling with others from Bakwu toward Kulungugu, and kill him.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency on Thursday, Major Joe Malik Punamani, Commander of Airborne Force, Northern Sector, currently in charge of the Bawku Detachment, said the deceased, Mr Adam Kayaba Osman alias Willa, a Mossi from Burkina Faso, was on a truck loaded with kola nuts and onions when he was pulled out and killed. Two others sustained gunshot wounds.

Major Punamani said the Bawku Municipal Security Council (MUSEC) has placed a temporarily ban on motorbike riding within the Municipality because many of killings were carried out by motorbike riders, who sped off after the killings.

The Upper East Regional Security Council (RESEC) on Wednesday called for an increase in the number of soldiers deployed to the Bawku Municipality from 150 to 300 in view of the deteriorating security situation in the area. Military helicopter to carry out occasional aerial patrols, especially on Bawku market days, should also be deployed to the area.

In addition, rapid response units of the Ghana Police Service should be sent to the Municipality, while those already there should be provided with logistics including vehicles and bullet-proof vests and jackets, a statement issued at the end of a joint meeting of the RESEC and Bawku Municipal Security Council (MUSEC) at Bawku said.

The statement, which was signed by Mr Mark Woyongo, Upper East Regional Minister, called for the strengthening of the Attorney-General's Office in Bolgatanga to facilitate the speedy prosecution of cases from Bawku to curb the spate of impunity in the Municipality.

The meeting recommended that the security personnel deployed in the area should be motivated financially to ensure their effectiveness and called for more support for the efforts of RESEC, MUSEC and civil society organizations in sensitising the youth of the area on the peace-building processes.

The statement said the RESEC had noticed with concern media reportage that tended to inflame passions and appealed to the media to be circumspect and to support efforts aimed at bringing lasting peace to the beleaguered Bawku Municipality.

There was sudden shooting in the Bawku Township at noon on Wednesday. The shooting disrupted the bustling market day activities, as people started running to their houses before the curfew at 1600 hours. The prompt reaction of the security services, however, brought things under control but the frightened residents, who had retired home, preferred starting the curfew four hours ahead of the scheduled time as the streets were virtually empty. 8 April10