Security agencies in the Sissala East District of the Upper West Region have arrested 17 heavily armed soldiers from Burkina Faso who were operating within Ghanaian territory.
The soldiers, estimated to be between 20 and 30 years old, were apprehended near the border community of Wuru, about an hour’s drive east of Tumu. They were reportedly found with firearms, explosives, and other military equipment.
According to officials of the Ghana Immigration Service, the armed men were in the process of setting up a combat position using sandbags when residents in the area noticed their activities and alerted security personnel.
“We received a distress call from community members about armed elements setting up a combat position. We moved in swiftly, ambushed them successfully, and conveyed them together with their weapons to our office,” an official stated.
During initial questioning, the soldiers claimed they were members of the Burkinabè army on routine patrol who had mistakenly crossed into Ghana.
They were, however, detained for several hours before being released at about 9:00 p.m. following directives from national authorities.
The weapons seized were returned the next day after a delegation led by officials of the Ghanaian Embassy in Burkina Faso visited to address the matter.
