The government has deployed military personnel and drones along the Wale Wale-Bolgatanga Highway following a series of armed attacks on passenger buses in the area.
Minister for the Interior, Mr. Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, made this known in Parliament on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, while responding to questions from the Member of Parliament for Wale Wale regarding the rising incidents of robberies and vehicle burnings in the North East Region.
Mr. Mohammed-Mubarak revealed that although armed robbery cases in Wale Wale had declined over the past three years—from 30 cases in 2022 to 18 in 2024—attacks on buses continue to be a major concern.
He attributed the recent spate of incidents to the ongoing Bawku chieftaincy conflict, which he noted was spilling over into surrounding areas.
To mitigate the situation, the government imposed a curfew on Wale Wale and neighboring areas on February 15, 2025. Additional police officers were deployed from Tamale to assist the Wale Wale District Command, alongside more vehicles and logistical support.
Three police bases have also been established in Wale Wale, Janga, and Gombiliga, each staffed by 30 officers to enhance patrols in the area. Furthermore, police escorts have been provided for market women traveling to and from Wale Wale’s markets to ensure their safety.
Despite these efforts, Mr. Mohammed-Mubarak admitted that no arrests had been made in connection with this year’s robbery incidents. He explained that the widespread use of motorbikes in the area has made it difficult to track suspects, but assured Parliament that drone surveillance operations would help address the issue.
“I will continue engaging with the police, and with drone surveillance now in place, I believe we will see improvements. But as of now, I have no information on arrests,” he stated.