Tragedy struck in Atuba, a suburb of the Binduri District in the Upper East Region, as unknown gunmen attacked a group of traders on Monday afternoon, resulting in five deaths and multiple injuries.

The victims, who were traveling from Bawku Township to the Atuba market for trading, fell prey to the assailants who fired at them indiscriminately.

The Binduri District Chief Executive, Mr. Ayinga Abagre Yakubu, confirmed the incident and expressed the authorities' commitment to investigating the attack. The motive behind the assault and the identity of the perpetrators remain unknown.

“When we got to the scene, the attackers were gone, and how the situation was, we could not get anybody to ask questions, so we had to attend to the injured persons who have been sent to the hospital for treatment, so we are still looking into it,” stated Mr. Yakubu.

The victims, mostly traders, were targeted while passing through the Atuba community. The injured individuals are currently receiving medical treatment at local healthcare facilities.

The incident follows a recent spate of violence in the region, with sources linking it to the chieftaincy clashes that resulted in five deaths in Bawku over the weekend.

The renewed conflict in Bawku has claimed the lives of at least 200 individuals since its resurgence in November 2021.