Military gun down seven assailants during attack on escort

Seven assailants have been killed after they attacked a military-escorted civilian convoy in Bawku, according to the Ghana Armed Forces.

The Ghana Armed Forces, in a statement signed by Acting Director General of Public Relations, Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin, confirmed the deadly confrontation and detailed how troops responded decisively to the ambush.

According to the statement, the incident occurred on Monday, April 27, 2026, at Binduri, when unknown gunmen opened fire on a convoy transporting about 140 civilians under military protection.

The convoy, moving from Bawku toward Bolgatanga, came under sustained attack, prompting an immediate response from the escort team.

“In the process, the military successfully repulsed the attack on the convoy, resulting in the death of 7 assailants,” the statement said, highlighting the scale of the counter-operation carried out by troops on the ground.

The military further disclosed that the attackers were pursued after the initial confrontation. “In pursuit, the military discovered and retrieved from an escapee who went to a mosque, a G3 automatic rifle, 2 filled magazines of 20 rounds each and 176 rounds of additional ammunition,” it added.

Ten other suspects linked to the attack have since been arrested and are assisting security agencies with ongoing investigations aimed at identifying the network behind the assault.

Despite the military’s success in neutralizing the attackers, the incident resulted in casualties among civilians. Three persons lost their lives while one sustained injuries during the exchange of gunfire, underlining the persistent dangers in the conflict-prone area.

The Armed Forces also issued a strong caution to the public. “The Ghana Armed Forces wishes to caution all to desist from engaging the military or any other security service during its operations,” the statement warned.

The latest violence comes against the backdrop of heightened security interventions in the Bawku enclave. In June 2025, President John Dramani Mahama directed the military to provide armed escorts for vehicles along major routes following repeated attacks on civilians.

That directive led to intensified protection along the Bolgatanga-Bawku-Pulmakom and Walewale-Bolgatanga corridors, though sporadic attacks continue to test security efforts in the region.