Immigration Officer Fatally Shot, Colleague Critically Wounded in Armed Attack at Gbintiri Checkpoint
A brazen armed assault at the Gbintiri inland checkpoint in Ghana’s East Mamprusi Municipality, near Nalerigu in the North East Region, claimed the life of one Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) officer and left another fighting for survival early on October 3, 2025. The attack, which unfolded around 1:30 a.m., has been condemned by authorities as a grave threat to national security, prompting a full-scale police probe.
Assistant Immigration Control Officer II (AICO II) Rafiq Mohammed, 32, was killed instantly from multiple gunshot wounds at the scene, while his colleague, AICO II Oppong Daniel, sustained severe injuries to the jaw and back. Daniel, 28, was rushed to the Baptist Medical Centre in Nalerigu, where he remains in critical condition under intensive care.
The GIS, in a statement from Deputy Commissioner Maud Anima Quainoo, decried the “cowardly act” and pledged full support to the families, vowing justice for the fallen officer.19ab24
Investigators from the North East Regional Police Command, led by Deputy Superintendent Robert Anabiik Anmain of the Public Relations Unit, recovered an AK-47 shell casing and a GIS-issued rifle (registration GH/GIS/HQACN 668516-1646) at the site, suggesting a targeted ambush by unidentified gunmen who fled into the night.
While the motive remains under investigation—potentially linked to smuggling, banditry, or local disputes—the timing near a major inland checkpoint raises alarms about vulnerabilities in border security amid rising cross-border crimes in the region.
The incident has sparked widespread mourning and fury on social media, with posts from outlets like TV3 Ghana and Graphic Online amplifying calls for enhanced officer protection and swift arrests.
“This is a direct assault on our sovereignty—our officers deserve better,” tweeted @tv3_ghana, garnering over 1,900 views.b5d8bc GIS Comptroller-General Prosper Kofi Hume has ordered a review of checkpoint protocols, while regional police have deployed additional patrols.
As Ghana grapples with internal threats like galamsey violence and external pressures, this tragedy underscores the perilous risks faced by security personnel. Mohammed’s body has been deposited at the Baptist Medical Centre morgue, and a joint funeral is being planned. Authorities urge the public to provide tips, promising anonymity
