The Northern Regional Police Intelligence Directorate has arrested a key suspect in an ongoing operation to dismantle a kidnapping syndicate operating in the region, marking a major breakthrough in the Wapuli investigations.
Police said the arrest follows weeks of sustained surveillance and intelligence-led operations after a 42-year-old man was abducted in Wapuli on December 6, 2025. The victim was later rescued by officers, who at the time arrested three members of a four-man syndicate.
According to police, the victim sustained life-threatening cutlass wounds during captivity. The kidnappers demanded a ransom of GH₵100,000 for his release and succeeded in collecting GH₵90,000. Officers later retrieved GH₵70,000 of the amount as part of the rescue operation.
Despite the initial arrests, police continued a manhunt for the remaining suspect believed to have played a central role in the crime. That effort culminated in the arrest of Hoycefe Amadu at about 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 20, 2026. He was apprehended at a hideout in a village approximately 10 kilometres outside Watugu, a suburb of Gushegu.
Police described Amadu as the fourth and key suspect in the syndicate, whose arrest is expected to significantly advance efforts to fully dismantle the criminal network.
The three earlier suspects have been remanded into prison custody and are expected to reappear in court as investigations continue.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, January 21, the Northern Regional Police commended officers involved in the operation for their persistence and assured the public of continued efforts to combat violent crime and ensure the safety of residents across the region.