Tamale High Court Jails Four Kidnappers for Eight Years Over Ransom Abduction
Police intensify manhunt for additional suspects as investigations into separate kidnapping cases continue.
- Four kidnappers jailed eight years each for ransom-related offences.
- Court orders auction of seized motorbikes and mobile phones.
- Police continue investigations into other abduction cases in the region.
Four men have been sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment with hard labour each after being convicted of kidnapping and related offences in Ghana’s Northern Region.
Speaking at a press briefing in Tamale, Northern Regional Police Commander, Wisdom Lavoe, said the convictions were secured at the Tamale High Court Two as part of ongoing efforts to combat kidnapping in the region.
The convicted individuals — Haruna Seidu, Osman Sambo, Amadu Aminu and Hoyeefe Amadu — were found guilty of abducting a man in Wapuli and demanding a ransom from his family.
According to police, the suspects were arrested by the Northern Regional Police Intelligence Unit while sharing the ransom proceeds at Bokpaba along the Yendi–Bimbilla road.
The court convicted the four on charges of conspiracy to kidnap, kidnapping, causing harm and threat of death. Their prison terms will run concurrently.
In addition, the court ordered the auction of four motorbikes and four mobile phones recovered during investigations, with the proceeds to be paid into the Consolidated Fund. A recovered amount of GH¢70,010 from the ransom money is to be returned to the victim’s brother, Buubu Osman.
Police say investigations are continuing into other kidnapping cases across the region.
One such case involved the abduction of a boy in Kabulya after armed men attacked the residence of Laolo Issah and assaulted two relatives. The kidnappers initially demanded GH¢100,000 before reducing the amount to GH¢20,000.
Acting on intelligence, police intercepted Amadu Abubakari at the Binda barrier and recovered the GH¢20,000 ransom payment along with an unregistered motorbike. He allegedly confessed to involvement and identified accomplices who remain at large.
The victim, Ali Issah, was later found at Kpandai Government Hospital with a gunshot wound to the jaw before being transferred to Tamale Teaching Hospital for treatment.
In another incident, police confirmed the kidnapping of 26-year-old Yahaya Issahaq on May 25 while he was grazing cattle in the Mion District. His abductors reportedly demanded GH¢200,000, later reducing the demand to GH¢150,000.
Following intelligence-led operations and digital tracking, police discovered his body on May 28 near River Dakar at Kpajie, close to Nakpa. Authorities said he had sustained gunshot wounds to the chest and had a chain around his neck.
DCOP Lavoe extended condolences to the victim’s family and assured the public that efforts were ongoing to apprehend all suspects linked to the crimes.
He reiterated the Northern Regional Police Command’s commitment to tackling kidnapping and other violent offences and urged residents to support investigations by providing information through emergency lines 191, 18555, or the nearest police station.
