According to Defence Minister Dominic Nitiwul, the fight in Bawku is about crime rather than chieftaincy.
He stated that he has directed the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) to handle the matter.
Speaking in Parliament on "What is happening today is not about chieftaincy. It is criminality. Those operating are criminals.
"I have asked members of the armed forces to deal with such persons as pure criminals.
"The government has done what it can on its part to ensure that Bawku is peaceful. We have moved Bawku from 50 to 400 soldiers, so we are sending another 500 military task force to Bawku alone next week."
The Upper East Regional Security Council (REGSEC) warned Bawku locals last week not to engage in a firefight with the military.
On Thursday, February 2, 2023, the REGSEC declared an emergency to assess the security situation in Bawku.
Following the meeting, a statement published read "REGSEC urges on the people of Bawku to be calm as it strives to achieve sustainable peace in Bawku.
"REGSEC asked factions to desist from any attempt to engage the Miluray in combat since that will be catastrophic on the part of civilians."
Some people in Bawku claim that troops on Operation Gongong to restore tranquilly in the region are killing innocent Kusasi youth and women in their homes and towns.
It was also claimed that military soldiers had taken control of Zoogin, a Kusasi village.
However, the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) denied the claims.
"GAF wishes to categorically state that these allegations are false and unfounded," a statement said.
It went on to say that according to information received from the National Investigations Bureau by the GAF's Operation Gongong Team earlier this week, passengers on board a yellow KIA Grand Bird Bus with Registration Number AS 3672-21 travelling from Accra to Missiga were attacked by unknown gunmen near Kpawelga on the Bawku Highways.
The shooters fired through the vehicle's tyres and engine compartment. The bus is now packed at Asylum Down, Bawku Divisional Police Station in preparation for the inquiry.
A KIA Rhino vehicle with the registration number AS 7093-17 was also damaged, and the driver, Alhassan Abdella, 40, of the Gonja tribe, was shot in the left foot. He is being treated at Bawku Presbyterian Hospital right now.
Again, gunshots were reported in South Natinga in Bawku on Wednesday, February 1, 2023. A Patrol Team hurried to the scene of the shooting and apprehended a suspect, Abdul Malik Haruna, aged 35, of the Mamprusi tribe. He was afterwards turned over to the Bawku Police Department for further investigation.
"It must be also placed on record that based on a tip-off by the Bawku Police on the hideout of the suspects alleged to be involved in the firing incident at Bawku, troops conducted cordon and search operations together with Bawku Police at Pateleme General Area.
"Three suspects, Fatau Alhassan Binda, aged 42, Abubakar Iddrisu, aged 44 and Alhassan Mustapha Binda, aged 33, all from the Dagomba tribe were arrested in a house at Pateleme. They were handed over to the Bawku Police for further investigations," the statement said.