Two gunned down in broad daylight in Bawku

Two teenage boys were shot dead last Wednesday in Bawku, in a disturbing incident that has once again raised concerns about safety and freedom of movement in the area.

The victims, identified as Talfu Saibu, about 17, and Asana Mbawini, about 16, both from the Binduri District, were reportedly shot while running an errand in Bawku Township.

The incident

Giving an account of the incident, the Assemblymember for the Binduri Central Electoral Area, Emmanuel Azumah, said he received a distress call at about 3:00 p.m. from a teacher in his electoral area.

“He called to ask if I was home and advised me to return immediately because a serious incident had occurred. That was when I was informed that two boys, who had been sent by their master to buy items in Bawku town, had been shot dead,” he said.

He said the boys were assistants to a local disc jockey (DJ) who operates sound systems and related equipment, and the boys had been sent to purchase materials, believed to be plywood, for the repair of speakers.

However, he said they allegedly went beyond the area they had been sent to and strayed into parts of the town where tensions remain high.

“It appears they exceeded the area they were supposed to go to and possibly entered zones they were unfamiliar with and were shot dead. Within Bawku, there are known limits, and both factions know where they are not supposed to cross.

“But these boys may not have known the boundaries, especially coming from the village and assumed they could move freely because things seemed calm,” he explained.

Upon receiving the report, the assembly member said he immediately contacted the police.

“With the assistance of the police and some community members, the bodies were conveyed to the hospital for preservation and autopsy,” he said.

The bodies have since been released to their families for burial.

Security concerns

The assembly member, while describing the incident as sad and unexpected, said the shooting occurred at a time when residents believed violence had subsided.

“After the release of the mediation report, things had gradually calmed down.

For days, we did not hear any gunshots, so people thought normalcy had returned,” he said.

He stressed that although a curfew exists, the incident occurred during hours when movement was permitted, highlighting persistent security gaps.

The assembly member called on security agencies to intensify patrols and ensure a visible presence at strategic locations.

“They may say they do not have enough personnel to cover every point, but security must be visible at vantage points.

That visibility alone can save lives, especially those of innocent and ignorant young people.”

The shooting has deepened anxiety among residents and renewed calls for stronger security measures to protect civilians as tensions continue to simmer in Bawku and its surrounding communities.