Ghanaian security agencies have arrested 17 heavily armed men believed to be soldiers from Burkina Faso after they were found operating inside Ghanaian territory in the Sissala East District of the Upper West Region.
The suspects, estimated to be between 20 and 30 years old, were apprehended near Wuru, a border community located about an hour’s drive east of Tumu. Security sources say the group was found in possession of several military-grade weapons, including firearms and explosive materials.
According to officials of the Ghana Immigration Service, the arrest followed a distress call from residents who reported seeing armed men allegedly setting up a combat position using sandbags near the community.
Immigration officers reportedly moved in swiftly after receiving the alert, ambushed the group, and transported both the suspects and their weapons to the immigration office for further investigation.
During interrogation, the men claimed they were Burkinabè soldiers on a routine patrol who had mistakenly crossed into Ghana after losing their bearings.
Despite this explanation, they were detained for several hours until national authorities ordered their release around 9:00 p.m. The weapons seized during the operation were returned the following day after a delegation, led by officials from the Ghanaian Embassy in Burkina Faso, visited the area.
Wuru lies within the Nazinga Forest belt, a zone that has been flagged for security concerns in recent years. Between 2022 and 2023, residents reported repeated sightings of armed men suspected to be terrorist elements moving through farmlands within the forest area.
Local residents say the persistent presence of armed groups has disrupted farming, hunting, and other livelihood activities. Intelligence reports suggesting a possible resurgence of suspected terrorist activity in the area have reportedly been circulating since December 2025.