Five officers injured and rifles stolen in Jirapa attack

A routine peace mission in the Saawie Community in Jirapa turned violent on Friday, December 5, 2025, when five police officers were attacked and disarmed by a group of residents.

What began as an effort to ease growing tensions between community members and Fulani herdsmen quickly became a frightening ordeal for the officers involved.

According to the Upper West Regional Police Command, the team led by ASP George Doe had travelled to the community to invite local leaders for a discussion that could prevent further conflict.

Instead, about thirty residents confronted the officers, beating them and taking three service rifles and a pistol.

One of the injured officers later shared that the group ambushed them the moment they stepped out of their vehicle, saying it felt like “the entire community turned on us within seconds”.

The severity of the attack prompted the Regional Commander, DCOP Francis Yiribaare, to call for immediate reinforcement from nearby districts.

The responding teams rescued the officers and moved them to St Joseph Hospital in Jirapa, where all five are currently recovering.

A search operation launched shortly after the rescue led to the recovery of one AK forty seven rifle without its magazine and one pistol.

Two rifles and a magazine remain missing.

Nine suspects were arrested during sweep operations, and several items believed to belong to fleeing attackers were retrieved, including locally made guns, motorbikes and a tricycle.

DCOP Yiribaare has since met with community leaders and given them twenty-four hours to help recover the remaining weapons.

He stressed that the safety of both residents and security personnel depends on their swift return.