Three dead, 34 arrested after chieftaincy-linked shooting in Funsi

Three people died and 34 suspects were arrested following a shooting incident on the night of May 22, 2026, at Funsi in the Wa East District of the Upper West Region. The incident was linked to a chieftaincy dispute. Police officers were alerted to a shooting incident in the Gbelonosi section of Funsi, where two persons were initially reported dead. The bodies of 37-year-old Fufulu Nandug and 22-year-old Yussif Samahan were discovered, both confirmed dead from gunshot wounds. A third body, later identified as 20-year-old Amadu Lukman, was discovered.

The killings are believed to be connected to a long-standing chieftaincy dispute. The Upper West Regional Police Commander, Commissioner of Police Francis Yiribaare, led a reinforcement team to Funsi. A shotgun, bow and arrows, quantities of gunpowder, spent cartridges, talisman-embedded smocks, and a medallion reportedly associated with rival factions in the chieftaincy conflict were retrieved.

All suspects and retrieved exhibits have been transferred to Wa. Investigators are working to establish the exact circumstances that led to the violence and identify all individuals involved in the shooting incident. The Police Service has extended condolences to the families of the deceased and assured the public that anyone found culpable will be dealt with strictly according to the law. The Upper West Regional Police Command has appealed to residents of Funsi to remain calm, refrain from acts of reprisal, and cooperate with security agencies. Additional security personnel have been deployed to the area, with intensified patrols underway.