Fresh violence in Nkwanta South claims five lives, security forces deployed

Five people have died in a fresh outbreak of violence in the Nkwanta South Municipality of the Oti Region, prompting the Inspector-General of Police to dispatch armoured vehicles and additional security forces to the area.

According to a Ghana Police Service press release on March 26, 2026, the victims, three men and two women, were discovered at two separate locations within the municipality by a joint security team. This team included personnel from the Police, Military, Bureau of National Investigations, Defence Intelligence, and the Ghana National Fire Service. While the victims have been identified, their names have not yet been released.

Police noted that officers from the National Police Operations Unit were part of the deployment, and calm has reportedly been restored following the intervention.

The renewed violence is tied to a longstanding dispute among three ethnic groups in the Nkwanta area: the Adele, Akyode, and Challa, driven by disagreements over land boundaries and security concerns.

A statement from the National Peace Council indicated that the conflict has also involved the movement of firearms into the municipality by individuals linked to the groups. On the same day, chiefs and elders from the three communities signed a declaration pledging an immediate cessation of the violence and halting the movement of weapons.

The agreement, which extends to allied groups, requires all parties to remain within their respective land boundaries while legal proceedings continue. It also directs leaders to ensure their members, particularly the youth, refrain from armed activity, regardless of provocation.

The National Peace Council announced plans to set up a joint committee to monitor adherence to the agreement. It also urged security agencies to act professionally, investigate all reports of violence, and called on residents to cooperate fully with law enforcement.

In a separate statement, Deputy Superintendent of Police John Nchor, Public Affairs Officer for the Oti Region, confirmed that investigations are underway to determine the circumstances of the killings and identify those responsible. No arrests have been reported so far.

Residents of Nkwanta and surrounding areas have been advised by both the police and the National Peace Council to avoid spreading unverified information and to assist the investigation by providing any relevant details.