The Comptroller-General of Immigration, Samuel Basintale Amadu, has appealed to residents of Hamile in the Upper West Region to cooperate with security agencies to restore peace following a deadly incident and subsequent clashes in the border community.
He said the lifting of the curfew imposed on the community would depend largely on the willingness of residents, particularly the youth, to cooperate with security personnel and guarantee their safety.
Mr Amadu made the appeal when he led a delegation from Accra to meet the Upper West Regional Security Council (REGSEC), security commanders, traditional authorities and youth representatives in Hamile.
The visit was to assess the security situation following an explosion on November 3, 2026, which claimed the lives of an immigration officer and two civilians, while another officer sustained critical injuries.
Sources indicated that the incident occurred when immigration officers spotted three suspected smugglers transporting contraband through an unauthorised route towards Burkina Faso.
The officers reportedly pursued the suspects, who allegedly opened fire during the chase.
An explosion subsequently occurred after gunfire reportedly struck objects suspected to be explosives being transported on a tricycle.
Mr Amadu commended the regional security agencies for their swift response, saying their intervention had helped to prevent further escalation.
He said the government was prepared to review and eventually lift the curfew if community leaders could provide assurances of cooperation and safety for security personnel.
The curfew, initially imposed from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m., was subsequently reviewed to 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. following improved compliance.
However, Mr Amadu said threats against security personnel remained a concern.
He urged chiefs, opinion leaders and youth representatives to engage their members and discourage acts that could undermine peace.
Mr Amadu also appealed to the media to exercise restraint in reporting the incident, particularly in the publication of disturbing images and unverified eyewitness accounts.
Security briefing
The Upper West Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police Francis Yiribaare, said the swift imposition of the curfew had helped to prevent further escalation.
He said security agencies continued to maintain an integrated deployment in the area to ensure law and order while enforcing the revised curfew.
Community response
The Hamile Divisional Chief, Naa Hiller Dyaka Thomas Badakum III, expressed the community's readiness to work with security agencies to restore peace.
He urged the youth to exercise restraint and ensure that the engagements produced lasting solutions.
A youth leader, Ibrahim Mohammed, also pledged the youth's commitment to peace and appealed to the government to lift the curfew to enable residents to resume normal economic activities.
He, however, urged immigration officers to exercise patience and professionalism in enforcing immigration regulations.
He said the community was prepared to work with security agencies to prevent a recurrence of the incident.
