Ten suspects have been arrested in connection with the Bawku clashes that resulted in 3 soldiers being shot.

One other person is reported dead in the incident involving armed assailants at Sabongari who engaged in a shootout with personnel of the 11 Mechanised Battalion of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).

This is the outcome of a search operation conducted by the Military in a bid to fish out armed assailants following renewed clashes and sporadic shootings in the Bawku municipality.

A statement released by the GAF said the ten armed assailants have since been handed over to the Bawku District Police for further investigations.

The statement confirmed that, five others including three soldiers sustained injuries in the shootout.

According to the GAF, troops deployed to Sabongari in the wake of the renewed clashes in Bawku heard gunshots emanating from an uncompleted building on Wednesday, March 16.

The troops then proceeded to the location in a bid to cordon off the area, but the armed assailants fired at them, which resulted in the three soldiers being injured.

“In the course of the operations and during the exchange of fire, one injured suspect who was part of the group that attacked the soldiers was picked up, given medical aid and sent to the Vineyard Hospital for treatment. A woman who sustained injuries in the cross fire, was also sent to the same hospital for treatment. Meanwhile, two of the three soldiers who were attacked are receiving treatment at the 37 Military Hospital after being airlifted to Accra yesterday,” the statement added.

GAF dismissed allegations that its personnel are on the rampage killing people and animals in Bawku. It described such claims as ‘false’ and ‘diversionary’, thus should be ignored accordingly.

The Military High Command assured that it will continue to work hard to ensure there is peace and the people of Bawku are protected to enable them go about their normal duties.

On Monday, one person was reported dead while four others were arrested after a shooting incident in the community.

Security personnel were deployed into the town to prevent an escalation of the situation.

Some residents caught in the crossfire told JoyNews that the latest violence began at 12:00pm and ended around 3:00 pm after which it erupted again.

“It all started around 12 something, so around 1, 3 thereabouts it stopped and right now everything started again. So around 1, the soldiers were in town shooting again. Let me say for the people, they are used to it. Today is a market day so everybody has gone back home,” an eyewitness said.

According to JoyNews‘ Albert Sore, the victim, identified as Stephen, was riding a horse from Taro to Bawku, adding that he stopped in one of Bawku’s suburbs to give water to his horse when he was shot.

Although it was not clear why he was shot, his being shot was the catalyst for the sporadic shooting in Bawku.