The simmering chieftaincy tensions in Funsi in the Wa East District of the Upper West Region have taken a deadly turn, following the killing of three young men in a shooting incident that has triggered a massive police security operation in the area.
The Upper West Regional Police Command has confirmed the arrest of 34 suspects in connection with the violence, as security agencies intensify efforts to prevent further bloodshed in the troubled community.
According to a statement issued by the Ghana Police Service on its official [X platform](https://x.com/ghpoliceservice?utm_source=chatgpt.com), the violence is linked to the protracted chieftaincy dispute in Funsi.
Police disclosed that on the night of May 22, 2026, officers at the Funsi Police Station received distress information that two persons had been shot dead at the Belonosi section of the community.
A police team dispatched to the scene reportedly confirmed the deaths of 37-year-old Fufulu Nandugu and 22-year-old Yussif Samahan.
The statement further revealed that during follow-up operations and investigations, a third victim identified as 20-year-old Amadu Lukman was also found dead within the community.
The killings prompted an immediate reinforcement operation led by the Upper West Regional Police Commander, DCOP Francis Yiribaare, who visited the area to supervise investigations and coordinate security deployments aimed at restoring calm.
Police said a total of 34 suspects have so far been picked up in connection with the disturbances.
Security operatives also retrieved a cache of exhibits believed to be linked to the violence and the underlying chieftaincy tensions between rival gates in the community.
The items retrieved include a shotgun, bow and arrows, gunpowder, spent cartridges, talisman-embedded smocks and a medallion which investigators suspect may be central to the ongoing dispute.
All the suspects, together with the retrieved exhibits, have since been transported to Wa to assist with ongoing investigations.
The development underscores the increasingly dangerous security dimension of unresolved chieftaincy disputes in parts of northern Ghana, where traditional succession conflicts continue to erupt into violent confrontations despite repeated mediation efforts by state institutions and traditional authorities.
The Police Administration, while expressing condolences to the bereaved families, assured the public that all persons responsible for the killings and disturbances would be brought to justice.
The Command has meanwhile appealed to residents, opinion leaders and all stakeholders in Funsi to remain calm and avoid retaliatory attacks that could further destabilise the area.
Police further called on the public to volunteer credible information to aid investigations.
As part of measures to contain the situation, the Regional Police Command indicated that intensified patrols and additional security interventions have been deployed within the community to maintain law and order.
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