A wave of violent crimes has hit the Bunkpurugu/Nakpanduri District in the North East Region, with rising incidents of kidnapping and highway robbery sparking widespread fear and insecurity among residents.

JoyNews sources report that between July and October this year, three kidnapping cases and seven armed robbery attacks were recorded in the district — a worrying development that has disrupted trade and movement across several communities.

One of the most shocking incidents occurred on October 1, when the 12-year-old son of the District Chief Executive was kidnapped while watching a football match on television. Eyewitnesses say the boy was seized and stuffed into a sack before locals raised an alarm, forcing the kidnappers to abandon him and flee. The suspects remain at large.

Earlier, in Bunkpurugu and nearby Kpamele, a three-year-old girl was abducted and later found dead and dismembered, a gruesome discovery that left residents traumatised and demanding justice.

The district has also been plagued by highway robberies along the Bunkpurugu–Nakpanduri road, with attackers targeting traders and commuters. The latest robbery on October 5 claimed the life of a young father of two, who was a senior staff member of the Yunyoo/Nasuan District Assembly.

Victims say the assailants, often heavily armed and operating at night, block the road, rob passengers of money, mobile phones, and vehicles, and sometimes inflict gunshot injuries.

The worsening security situation has forced transport operators to cut down services, while many traders say they fear travelling across the district with their goods.

“The politicians used to blame the old conflict for the lack of development here,” one resident told JoyNews.

“But it’s been nearly ten years since peace returned. What is their excuse now for keeping this district neglected?”

Local leaders are urging the government to deploy more security personnel and resources to the area. Police sources, however, admit that inadequate logistics — especially fuel for patrol vehicles — are hampering operations.

The Bunkpurugu–Nakpanduri highway, a vital trade corridor linking Ghana to neighbouring Togo, remains in poor condition and is now considered one of the most dangerous routes in the North East Region.

Security agencies say patrols have been intensified and investigations are underway to track down the culprits behind the recent wave of attacks.