A group of armed men, wielding AK-47 rifles and other weapons, blocked the Bolgatanga-Tamale Highway near Gbimsi in the North East region.

They set a vehicle on fire and assaulted passengers in a violent incident linked to the ongoing Bawku chieftaincy conflict.

According to reports, the attackers halted vehicles and screened passengers, specifically searching for individuals from Bawku.

A witness who survived the ordeal shared his experience:

“I went to Tamale Airport this morning to drop someone. On my way back, at Gbimsi, I encountered people armed with guns, blocking the road and burning tyres. They said they were looking for Kusasis. After screening me, they let me go when I told them I was not a Kusasi. I saw them beating someone, but I couldn’t stay to see how it ended.”

The attack took place amidst heightened tensions following the latest resurgence of the Bawku chieftaincy dispute, which escalated on Saturday, October 26. Gbimsi, a community with a predominantly Mamprusi population, has felt the ripple effects of the renewed clashes.