The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has rebuffed claims on social media that its personnel are on a rampage in Bawku, attacking and killing civilians.
According to the army, the claims are false and diversionary and the search operations that it has embarked upon in the area have been carefully planned in accordance with the rules of engagement to rid the Bawku Municipality of the armed assailants engaged in the sporadic shootings
A statement issued by GAF on Thursday, 17th March, 2022 and signed by Director of Public Relations Captain Michael Addo Larbi of the Ghana Navy stated its personnel at the 11 Mechanised Battalion conducted a series of cordon and search operations in Bawku and its environs with the support of the police in a bid to fish out armed assailants.
According to the military, this operation was triggered by renewed clashes and sporadic shooting in the border town in the past few days, which resulted in exchange of fire between personnel and some armed assailants at Sabongari, a suburb of Bawku.
In the process, one assailant died and five persons including three soldiers – two of whom have been medevacked to Accra, were injured while 10 suspects were rounded up and handed over to the Bawku District Police for further investigations.
The statement explained that some of the suspects who had been hit by bullets were traced to the Akunye Memorial Hospital, where they were placed under armed guard.
Another, a woman, was sent to the Vineyard Hospital for treatment.
“Although the situation has been brought under control, the troops of 11 Mechanised remain on high alert to deal with any situation that may arise.
“The Ghana Armed Forces wishes to state categorically that these cordon and search operations have been carefully planned in accordance with the rules of engagement in order to rid the Bawku Municipality of the armed assailants engaged in the sporadic shootings.
“The allegations being circulated on social media that GAF personnel are on the rampage killing people and animals are false and diversionary and must accordingly be ignored.”
Source: Mypublisher24.com
