Security forces in the Sissala East District of the Upper West Region have arrested 17 heavily armed soldiers from Burkina Faso who were found within Ghanaian territory.
The soldiers, believed to be between the ages of 20 and 30, were arrested near the border community of Wuru, located about an hour’s drive east of Tumu. They were found with several military items, including firearms and explosive devices.
Officials from the Ghana Immigration Service said the men were in the process of setting up a combat position with sandbags when residents of the community noticed their presence and alerted authorities.
An immigration official explained that officers responded quickly to the distress call, ambushed the group, and safely transported both the soldiers and their weapons to the Immigration Service office.
During questioning, the soldiers claimed they were members of the Burkinabè army on a routine patrol and had crossed into Ghana after losing their way.
Despite this explanation, the men were held for several hours and were only released around 9:00 p.m. after national authorities directed their release.
Their weapons were returned the following day after a delegation, led by officials from the Ghanaian Embassy in Burkina Faso, visited.
Wuru is located within the Nazinga Forest area, where residents between 2022 and 2023 reported frequent movements of armed individuals suspected to be terrorists within farmlands inside the forest.
These activities, according to residents, disrupted farming, hunting, and other economic activities.
In December 2025, intelligence reports began circulating about the possible return of these suspected armed groups to the area.
