The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) have arrested a suspected gunman and seized a cache of weapons during a joint cordon-and-search operation in Binduri, near the volatile Bawku enclave in the Upper East Region. The operation, carried out in the early hours of Monday, was initiated after troops deployed in the area reported sporadic gunfire near the Binduri Central Market, an area affected by recent ethnic and chieftaincy-related violence.
According to an official GAF statement, the joint task force—comprising personnel from the 11 Mechanised Battalion, the National Police Service, and the Northern Command’s Joint Task Force—conducted a targeted sweep of the area. One suspect was arrested, and a large quantity of arms and ammunition was recovered. Weapons seized include:
- One AK-47 rifle
- One G3 rifle
- 370 rounds of M16 and AK-47 ammunition
- 128 rounds of G3 ammunition
- An empty M16 magazine
- A machete
- Four fragmentation jackets
- A military helmet and a pair of boots
The suspect has been transferred to police custody for further investigation.
The Bawku area, plagued by longstanding ethnic tensions and armed violence, has seen increased military presence in recent months as authorities attempt to stem rising insecurity. The GAF has reiterated its commitment to restoring stability and urged residents to support peacekeeping efforts by providing timely and accurate information.
“We continue to count on the cooperation of the local population to achieve sustainable peace,” the statement read.
