Residents of Berekum in the Bono Region have been left in shock after a 24-year-old tricycle (Pragya) rider, Bernard Kyere, was found shot dead in his vehicle in the early hours of Saturday.
The incident occurred between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. at Sofokyere, a suburb of Berekum, and has heightened fears among local riders who say violent attacks on their colleagues are becoming increasingly common.
Chairman of the Auto Rickshaw Riders at the Biadan Station, Nana Yusuf Bakari, who rushed to the scene with police officers, confirmed that the victim had been shot in the head and left lifeless inside his tricycle.
“This is the third such attack in the area,” Nana Bakari told Adom News reporter Dominic Donyina, warning that Pragya riders may be forced to suspend operations in Sofokyere, especially at night, if the violence continues. Such a move, he added, would significantly disrupt local transport services that many residents rely on after dark.
The victim’s father, Seth Kyeret, expressed his grief, recounting how he was informed of his son’s death around 3 a.m. on Saturday. He said Bernard had been home on Friday evening before leaving with his tricycle after receiving a phone call around 8 p.m.
“Believing his son was on his usual night rounds, he went to bed, only to be told at dawn that his son had been killed,” the grieving father shared. He has since appealed to security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice.
The body of the deceased has been deposited at the Holy Family Catholic Hospital morgue, while police investigations continue. Authorities have yet to announce any arrests in connection with the incident.
The killing has intensified calls from residents and transport unions for increased police patrols and stronger security presence in the Berekum Municipality to curb violent crimes targeting tricycle operators.
