A military-escorted civilian convoy was ambushed in northern Ghana on Monday, leaving three civilians dead and one injured, authorities said.
The convoy, carrying around 140 passengers from Bawku to Bolgatanga, came under sustained gunfire near Binduri.
Unidentified attackers opened fire along the route, shattering the fragile calm of a region long shadowed by recurring communal violence.
The Ghana Armed Forces said troops returned fire, repelling the assault and killing seven of the suspected attackers.
Security personnel later recovered weapons, including a locally made firearm, a G3 rifle, and ammunition from a fleeing suspect.
Ten additional suspects have been detained and are assisting investigators as authorities attempt to piece together the circumstances behind the ambush.
The military urged residents to avoid interfering with ongoing operations and extended condolences to families grieving the loss of loved ones.
The attack underscores persistent instability around Bawku, where tensions rooted in chieftaincy disputes continue to ignite cycles of violence.
Rivalries between the Kusasi and Mamprusi communities have simmered for decades, occasionally erupting into deadly clashes that scar the region.
Repeated reprisals, curfews, and heavy deployments have disrupted trade routes and daily life, casting a long shadow over local communities.
Despite mediation efforts by governments and traditional leaders, the conflict remains unresolved, leaving the area as one of Ghana’s enduring security flashpoints.