Inflammatory chants have erupted in the streets of Bawku, reigniting fears over the decades-old chieftaincy dispute between the Mamprusi and Kusasi ethnic groups in Ghana’s Upper East Region.
Video footage circulating widely on social media shows Mamprusi protesters declaring, “We will bring Boko Haram to Ghana.
No justice, no peace,” as they demand the release of their leader, Alhaji Seidu Abagre, who has been detained since late December 2025.
The protest stems from the arrest of Alhaji Seidu Abagre, a 78-year-old retired teacher also known as Naa Sheriga Kulga II, whom supporters regard as the legitimate Bawku Naba (paramount chief).
Authorities charged him with acting as a chief without qualification contrary to the Chieftaincy Act, provocation of riot, and other offenses.
The High Court in Accra denied him bail, citing risks to national security and the potential for further violence in the volatile Bawku area.
His legal team has filed applications challenging the detention, with the court ordering the Attorney-General to justify holding him.
The Bawku chieftaincy conflict dates back generations, rooted in competing claims over the Bawku skin (traditional stool) and control of land, customs, and local authority.
The Mamprusi assert historical overlordship tied to the broader Mamprugu Kingdom, while the Kusasi, who form the majority in the area, claim indigenous rights.
The dispute has led to periodic clashes, curfews, military deployments, and loss of life, stalling development in the border municipality near Burkina Faso.
Recent efforts to resolve the impasse included a high-profile mediation led by Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
In late 2025, the Asantehene’s report affirmed Zugran Abugrago Azoka II as the legitimate Bawku Naba, a finding endorsed by the government but rejected by the Nayiri (overlord of Mamprugu) and many in the Mamprusi community.
Abagre’s continued claim to the title and presence in Bawku reportedly defied the mediation outcome, prompting his arrest on December 24, 2025, by military personnel.
Supporters describe the action as unlawful abduction and political interference, while officials link his activities to renewed instability.
The video of the protest, shared across platforms including X, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, features demonstrators chanting threats amid calls for justice.
One individual in the footage has drawn particular attention from netizens and calls for police investigation due to the explicit reference to Boko Haram, the notorious Nigerian Islamist insurgent group.
While many online commentators dismiss the statement as rhetorical frustration born of ethnic grievance rather than credible terrorist intent, others express alarm, urging swift action to prevent escalation.
Responses on social media range from condemnation of the rhetoric to warnings that such language echoes early warnings ignored in Nigeria’s insurgency.
Ghanaian authorities have maintained a heavy security presence in Bawku for years to contain violence, with additional soldiers deployed during flare-ups.
The government has not yet issued an official statement on the latest protests or threats, but police are reportedly monitoring the situation closely.
The incident highlights the fragile state of peace in the region despite mediation attempts.
Community leaders and analysts stress that inflammatory language risks transforming a localized ethnic and chieftaincy quarrel into a broader security concern, especially given Bawku’s proximity to volatile Sahel borders.
As the court case continues and protests persist, calls are growing for renewed dialogue to address underlying grievances and prevent further deterioration in what remains one of Ghana’s most protracted traditional disputes.
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