Security agencies in the Sissala East District of the Upper West Region have arrested 17 heavily armed Burkinabè soldiers who were found operating within Ghanaian territory.
The soldiers, believed to be between 20 and 30 years old, were arrested near the border community of Wuru, about an hour’s drive east of Tumu. They were found in possession of several military items, including firearms and explosive devices.
Officials of the Ghana Immigration Service said the armed men were in the process of establishing a combat position with sandbags when they were spotted by residents of the area, prompting an alert to security authorities.
“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 preliminary interrogation, the men claimed they were soldiers of the Burkinabè army on routine patrol who had strayed into Ghanaian territory.
Despite their explanation, the soldiers were detained for several hours until about 9:00 p.m., when national authorities issued a directive for their release.
Their weapons were subsequently returned the following day after a delegation, led by officials from the Ghanaian Embassy in Burkina Faso, paid a visit.
