Security expert Adib Saani has cautioned against hastily linking the brutal killing of Mohammed Seidu Akugri, the Bongo District Director of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), to the ongoing Bawku conflict.
Speaking in response to growing speculation surrounding the incident, Mr. Saani said the motive behind the crime remains unclear and urged authorities to consider other possibilities.
“We need to be extremely cautious, it is completely unacceptable,” he stressed, warning against assumptions that could misdirect investigations.
Mr. Saani added that the nature of the killing—where the victim was reportedly shot, killed, and burned near Nangodi in the Upper East Region could suggest a motive unrelated to the ethnic tensions in Bawku.
“This might be something else, and not what we think,” he said, calling on the government and security agencies to dig deeper and remain open-minded in their probe. His remarks aim to prevent the narrative from being prematurely shaped by existing regional conflicts, potentially overlooking other crucial leads.
His comments follow a strong statement from the Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, who condemned the murder in “no uncertain terms” and urged law enforcement to swiftly bring the perpetrators to justice.
Mr. Ayariga expressed condolences to the bereaved family and praised efforts by traditional leaders, especially the Asantehene, to resolve tensions in Bawku. “Significant progress is being made and no one should be allowed to derail the process,” he noted, while commending the youth for their restraint and support for peacebuilding efforts.
