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0 The Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, has disclosed that several police officers deployed to the Bawku enclave are threatening to resign if their transfer requests are not granted.
He said the worsening security situation has made postings in the area extremely dangerous, with officers at checkpoints attacked and killed over the past three months amid ongoing unrest.
Addressing Parliament on Tuesday, February 10, the Minister called on Members of Parliament from affected constituencies to collaborate closely with the security agencies to restore calm and ensure a safer working environment for personnel on the ground.
“I have had instances where some officers say that if you don’t transfer me from that area, I will rather resign. Why? Because the citizens themselves over there are not helpful. To the extent that people have the courage to go and openly fire at police officers and kill them at the checkpoints. At a point in time, the IGP had to withdraw all police officers from checkpoints,” Mr Muntaka said.
He clarified that the withdrawal was temporary and not intended as a long-term measure, stressing that protection for officers must be reinforced rather than abandoning duty posts.
“I had to insist that the answer is not to withdraw but rather to position them with armoured vehicles. As MPs, we need to work with these security people so that we will be able to create an enabling environment within the area so they can assist and help us,” he added.
The Minister’s remarks highlight the mounting risks faced by security personnel in Bawku, where persistent disturbances continue to endanger both officers and civilians, intensifying calls for stronger collaboration between lawmakers, community leaders and law enforcement to restore stability.
