By Philip Tengzu, GNA
Wa, (UW/R), Nov. 04, GNA – Calm has been restored in Hamile in the Lambussie District, Upper West Region, following a confrontation involving security personnel and civilians after an explosion during a border patrol operation by officers of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS).
A statement by the GIS indicated that an officer of the service and a tricycle rider died in the incident, while another officer sustained injuries and was receiving treatment at the Nandom Hospital.
The statement, signed by DSI Barbara Sam for the Head/Public Affairs Department, indicated that the incident occurred along an unapproved route in the Hamile Sector in the early hours of Tuesday, 3rd November 2026.
“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.
It said investigations had commenced to establish the circumstances surrounding the explosion.
The Service assured the public that border security operations in the Hamile Sector remained in force.
Meanwhile, Mr Mohammed Fatawu, Assembly Member for Hamile West Electoral Area, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that the incident happened when two civilians were carrying some items on a tricycle to Burkina Faso.
According to him, an eyewitness account indicated that while transporting the items some officers of the GIS stopped them, but they did not stop, which prompted a chase by two officers.
He said in the process, one officer shot at the tricycle, which caused the items in the tricycle to explode, tearing the two civilians apart beyond recognition and also killing one of the officers.
He explained that the youth of the community later mobilised to attack the Immigration Post at Hamile, which also resulted in gun shots, leading two civilians to sustain fractures on their legs and eight others sustaining gun wounds.
Mr Fatawu said the ten civilians are all receiving treatment at the Nandom Hospital.
He added that personnel from the Ghana Armed Forces, Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service and Customs were in the community to maintain peace and order.
Also, the Ministry of the Interior had imposed a curfew on Hamile and its surrounding communities, from 1800 hours to 0500 hours.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Odeng Adade
4 November 2026
Reporter: Philip Tegzu, GNA
Reporter’s email: [email protected]