Gov’t imposes new curfew on Bawku and Nalerigu

• The government has imposed a new curfew on Bawku and Nalerigu to contain spillover of Bawku conflict.
• The new curfew is a daily one from 2:00 pm to 6:00 am until further notice.

The government has imposed a curfew on Nalerigu and its surrounding communities to contain spillover of Bawku conflict in the North East Region.

The decision forms part of broader efforts to maintain security and control the spillover of the protracted Bawku conflict into the area.

The curfew, which took effect on Sunday, July 27, 2025, will run daily from 2:00 pm to 6:00 am until further notice. It was imposed through an Executive Instrument following recommendations from the North East Regional Security Council.

The Interior Ministry also announced a total ban on the possession of arms, ammunition, and offensive weapons within the affected communities. It warned that anyone found violating the directive would be arrested and prosecuted.

The security measures come in the wake of heightened tensions in the area, following the shooting and killing of two male students of Nalerigu Senior High School. The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday, July 26, when unidentified gunmen stormed the school and opened fire, killing the students on the spot. Police have since launched investigations, while an increased security presence remains on the school campus.

Eyewitnesses said gunshots rang out just before dawn, forcing students to run for cover or lock themselves in their dormitories.

While the curfew is not solely in response to the school incident, authorities believe the attack reflects growing insecurity in the area. According to the Interior Minister, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, the curfew is a preventive measure to avert further violence and ensure that the long-standing Bawku conflict does not spread into Nalerigu and surrounding towns.

The Bawku conflict, rooted in deep-seated ethnic and chieftaincy tensions, has flared in recent months with sporadic violence, fatalities, and destruction of property.