Man killed, one injured in Walewale market shootings

One person has died and another suffered gunshots injury on Monday evening after armed men suspected to be robbers opened fire at a market in Walewale in the Northern region.

The unknown gunmen numbering over six arrived at the market on two motorbikes at about 6:50pm and fired sporadically before targeting mobile money vendors and shop owners.

Residents and eyewitnesses said the gunmen were Fulanis and that guns they wielded were sophisticated and “powerful”.

The man killed was identified as Mr Razak, a driver with the COCOBOD at Dunkwa in the Central region but a native of a village in the West Mamprusi district called Tampulungu. He was killed by a stray bullet while leaving the market after sending cash to his wife using the mobile money service.

“At around 6:50pm these guys came on two motorbikes with three people on each motorbike. So they arrived and started shooting and as of that time the deceased was also there to send money to his wife and that he had finished sending GH200 and was about leaving when they arrived and started shooting, so in attempt to run they shot him twice and killed him”, a resident informed Kasapa News through a Whatsapp message.

A student nurse whose mother’s store was also targeted sustained an ankle injury in the heist but managed to escape and was receiving treatment. He has been identified as Majeed.

An eyewitness also described a chaotic scene and said people fell on the floor out of horror. The robbers later unmounted from their motorbikes after the market was left empty and took away a bag containing textiles. The gunmen believed the bag was full of money and fled with it.

The deceased was left at the scene until police later conveyed him to the hospital where he was pronounced dead and the body released to the family to be buried Tuesday morning. There is still little information on the amount stolen from the vendors and shop owners.

Exactly a year ago, five persons suffered severe gunshots injuries in a similar attack at Wulugu, another community in the district few kilometres from Walewale where this latest incident happened.

Those gunmen were also identified as Fulani herdsmen who came on motorbikes and ordered mobile vendors to surrender their proceeds before firing indiscriminately.

One motorbike was retrieved and handed over to the police. In both cases, police have not been able to make any arrest.

The police is yet to comment on the latest incident that has left residents in shock and fear.