A deadly explosion involving a tricycle reportedly carrying suspected dynamite has claimed the life of a Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) officer and left others critically injured at Hamile in the Upper West Region.
The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, 3 November, also reportedly killed the civilians transporting the suspected explosive materials.
Preliminary information from security sources in Hamile suggests that the civilians were travelling along an unauthorised route when they encountered security personnel at a checkpoint.
The occupants of the tricycle allegedly failed to comply with instructions to stop, prompting security officers to pursue them in an attempt to intercept the vehicle.
The pursuit reportedly ended in an explosion that caught the pursuing personnel, killing one immigration officer and leaving his colleague with critical injuries. The civilians on the tricycle were also reported dead.
The surviving officer is said to be in serious condition. However, details concerning the extent of the injuries and the medical facility where the officer is receiving treatment remain unclear.
Hamile, a border community in the Upper West Region close to Ghana’s frontier with Burkina Faso, is an important location for security operations aimed at monitoring cross-border movements and preventing unauthorised activities.
The incident has drawn attention to the security challenges associated with the use of unapproved routes in border communities, particularly in efforts to monitor the transportation of potentially dangerous materials.
JoyNews’ Rafiq Salam reports that the incident has plunged Hamile into mourning, with residents gathering at the Ghana Immigration Service checkpoint to demand the withdrawal of Immigration personnel from the community.
He said the situation had heightened tensions in the border town, prompting the deployment of military personnel to the area.
Source: Myjoyonline
