Residents of Nyariga in the Bolgatanga municipality, Upper East Region of Ghana, are living in fear due to the rising number of armed robbery attacks in the area, creating a climate of intense insecurity.
On August 1, 2025, around 2 a.m. , a 20-year-old man was killed by armed robbers while returning to the Nyariga community from Bolgatanga township. Mr. Joseph Abeekaabe, the assembly member, reported that when they arrived at the scene, they found the deceased lying in a farm with two bullet casings nearby. The police were alerted, and the body was taken to the Bolgatanga Hospital mortuary. A survivor was also picked up by the police for questioning.
The survivor recounted that they were riding home when the robbers began to chase them. In a desperate attempt to escape, they locked the motorbike’s steering and fled in different directions. Tragically, the pillion rider was shot and killed in the process. The rider initially thought the gunshots were warning shots meant to scare them away, unaware that his companion had been struck. It wasn’t until the morning, when the local Tindana (traditional leader) inspected his farm, that the body was discovered.
The victim was identified as Junior Akurubire Anaba, a member of the Nyariga community. Mr. Abeekaabe expressed concern that this incident is not isolated; it marks the fourth or fifth armed robbery incident in the area. He highlighted that poor street lighting in Bolgatanga and Nyariga has contributed to the problem, as many streetlights have been stolen, leaving residents vulnerable.
He appealed to the regional police commander to establish a police barrier in the community to help curb the increasing robbery attacks. Additionally, he urged the Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Roland Atanga Ayoo, and the Bongo District Chief Executive, Mr. Joseph Abaa Akaseke, to collaborate on improving street lighting to enhance safety.
There are currently no street lights from Zaare to Nyariga, and the road from Bolgatanga Technical University to Zorko Ayo is also unlit, facilitating the robbers’ activities.
ASP David Fianko Okyere, the Upper East Regional Police Public Relations Officer, they are yet unraveled to the circumstances that to the death of the young man so when their investigation are done they would speak to the media .
source: mywordfmonline.com/Gaspard Ayuureneeya Adongo.