EXPLOSION IN HAMILE KILLS 3 - 10 OTHERS INJURED IN CLASHES, DUSK TO DAWN CURFEW IMPOSED

The tricycle operator, said to have attempted to escape as border security operatives tracked him down, was among the casualties, while a second immigration officer impacted by the explosion remained under emergency medical care at the Nandom Hospital as of yesterday. The youth of the town allegedly mobilised and clashed with immigration officers following the incident, with 10 others injured during the confrontation. A statement by the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, said the 6:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. curfew in the border town was to take immediate effect. “Government urges chiefs, opinion leaders, youth and people of the area to exercise restraint in the face of the challenges confronting them and to use non-violent means to channel their grievances into ensuring peace in the area,” the statement said. It emphasised that there was now a total ban on all persons in Hamile and its environs carrying arms, ammunition, or any offensive weapons, and that any person found with any arms or ammunition would be prosecuted. The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), in a separate statement, announced the death of its officer, “in the line of duty during a border patrol operation in the Hamile Sector”. It said the incident occurred along an unapproved route in the Hamile Sector in the early hours of yesterday. “A team of four officers deployed for border patrol duties responded to an unusual sound in the area. During the response, the team intercepted a man conveying a load on a tricycle, who attempted to escape. “As the officers approached to ascertain the contents of the load, the rider attempted to evade arrest. In the process of trying to stop him, the load exploded, resulting in the death of the tricycle rider and injuries to two officers,” the statement said. Tension in Hamile In the moments that followed the incident, tension rose in the town along Ghana’s border with Burkina Faso as news of the death of the immigration officer and suspected smugglers, along with injuries to several others, spread. Eyewitnesses indicated the incident started when immigration officers saw three suspected smugglers moving contraband through an unauthorised route toward Burkina Faso. The suspects were two teenagers on a sand-laden tricycle and an elderly man on a motorcycle in front of them, allegedly acting as a guide. Officers reportedly chased the suspects, who allegedly fired weapons during the chase. Then there was a huge explosion when gunfire reportedly hit objects thought to be explosives in the tricycle. The two teenagers and one of the immigration officers died. The elderly man also sustained serious injuries and was receiving medical attention at the hospital at the time of filing this report. Retaliatory strike The incident reportedly resulted in violence as some aggrieved youth in the community allegedly attacked immigration officers in retaliation for the deaths. The officers allegedly shot back during the confrontation, leaving about 10 people injured. The injured persons were rushed to Nandom Hospital for treatment. The development increased tension in the border community as groups of youth allegedly gathered in parts of Hamile to protest the deaths. Sources said the military was deployed to the area to restore order and prevent any further violence. Meanwhile, investigations have been launched to establish the circumstances of the explosion, the nature of the suspected explosive materials involved, and the events that led to the deaths and the subsequent clashes. Sources said community leaders and other stakeholders were engaging residents to calm tensions and restore normalcy. Immigration The GIS statement said the Sector Commander and a team visited the scene. “The area has since been secured, and investigations have commenced to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident. “The Service wishes to assure the general public that border security operations in the Hamile Sector remain fully operational, and that all necessary measures are being taken to ensure the safety and security of the area. “The Ghana Immigration Service also appeals to the media and the general public to respect the privacy of the affected families and to refrain from circulating unverified information, images, or videos relating to the incident,” the statement stressed.