Three persons have lost their lives and thirty four individuals have been apprehended following a violent outbreak of gunfire connected to a chieftaincy succession conflict at Funsi in the Wa East District of the Upper West Region of Ghana. The confrontation, which erupted on the night of May 22, 2026, has intensified unease within the local population and triggered a significant security mobilisation aimed at restoring calm and preventing further escalation.
According to the police, officers initially received reports of a shooting incident within the Gbelonosi enclave of Funsi, where two individuals were first confirmed deceased. Upon reaching the location, law enforcement personnel identified the bodies of thirty seven year old Fufulu Nandug and twenty two year old Yussif Samahan, both of whom had succumbed to gunshot injuries.
Further coordinated search efforts conducted across the community subsequently led to the recovery of a third body, identified as twenty year old Amadu Lukman. This discovery raised the confirmed death toll to three, deepening the severity of the incident and reinforcing concerns about the fragility of peace in the area.
Investigations indicate that the violence is linked to a prolonged traditional leadership dispute that has periodically generated friction between rival factions within the community. The dispute, long standing in nature, is believed to have resurfaced with renewed intensity, culminating in the fatal confrontation.
In response, the Upper West Regional Police Commander, Commissioner of Police Francis Yiribaare, led a reinforced security team to Wa East District to bolster ongoing investigative efforts and stabilise the security environment. The deployment was aimed at preventing retaliatory actions and ensuring the immediate restoration of order.
Authorities confirmed that a total of thirty four suspects have so far been taken into custody as security operations expanded across Funsi and surrounding areas. Several items believed to be connected to the disturbances were also recovered during the exercise. These include a shotgun, bow and arrows, quantities of gunpowder, spent cartridges, talisman embedded smocks, and a medallion allegedly associated with rival traditional factions.
All suspects together with the retrieved exhibits have been transferred to Wa to assist with further interrogation and possible prosecution. Investigators are currently working to reconstruct the sequence of events that led to the violence and to identify all individuals directly or indirectly involved in the shootings.
The Ghana Police Service has extended condolences to the bereaved families and has assured the public that anyone found culpable will face the full force of the law without exception. Meanwhile, the Upper West Regional Police Command has appealed to residents of Funsi to remain calm, avoid reprisal attacks, and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information that could aid ongoing investigations.
Additional security personnel have been deployed to the area, with intensified patrols underway to deter further unrest and safeguard residents. Authorities maintain that restoring lasting peace in the community remains the highest priority as investigations into the chieftaincy related violence continue.
SOURCE: Myjoyonline
