Accra: Four individuals were allegedly killed and several others injured in a brazen attack by unknown gunmen at the Garu District National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Office in the Upper East Region.
According to Ghana News Agency, eyewitnesses reported that four attackers on two motorbikes began firing indiscriminately at the NHIA Office, resulting in the immediate deaths of two people. One of the victims was identified as a staff member of the NHIA, who was shot inside the office, while another unidentified man was killed outside the premises.
The assailants continued their shooting spree as they made their escape, indiscriminately targeting bystanders, including teachers and students of a nearby public school. In the chaos, the headteacher of Garu D/A Primary School and a local chief were also shot dead, raising the death toll to four. The attackers reportedly seized a new motorbike from one of their victims before fleeing the scene.
The injured are currently receiving medical treatment at local health facilities, and the attack has left the township in a state of fear and panic. Mr. Edward Ndebugri, a former Presiding Member of the Garu District Assembly and current Assembly Member for Kugri, confirmed the incident to the GNA, expressing the community's shock and their lack of understanding of the motive behind the attack.
'The whole town is in shock. This is the first time we are witnessing such an incident. People are living in fear, and we are pleading with the security agencies to investigate and bring the perpetrators to justice,' he stated.
In response, security personnel have increased their presence in the area, with heavily armed police and military forces patrolling key locations, including the District NHIA Office and the Presbyterian Hospital. Calm has since been restored, and security services have launched an investigation into the attack.
Residents have called for calm and urged the government and security agencies to intensify their investigations and enhance security measures to prevent any future incidents.
