5 in police custody for attempted kidnapping

5 suspected persons are in police custody for allegedly attempted kidnapping of a 14-year old by name Gafaru Tonga at Singa in Daboya a suburb of the North Gonja District of the Savannah Region.

The suspects are weavers in Daboya and have been identified as Alhassan Abdulai, 18 years; Alidu Taufic, 25 years; Osman Rashid, 19 years; Amidu Hafiz, 20 years; and Amadu Abdulai, 21 years.

According to the Northern Regional Police PRO, Yussif Tanko the attempted kidnapping of the teenager occurred in the late hours of June 23^rd 2019  at around 11:30 pm.

Upon receiving news on the suspected kidnapping, police personnel were dispatched the chief’s palace at Singa where residents who helped in the arrest kept the suspected kidnappers.

Three of the five suspects denied the allegation after they were questioned but the remaining two suspects admitted to have voyaged to the area via a Motorbike at around 6: 00 pm on the day to buy foul white guinea fowls for what they called their “rituals” at Tali No 1 close to Daboya.

The suspects asked for direction from Gafaru Tonga, the victim who helped to direct them to one Fulani man’s house to buy the fowls. They gave the victim a ride on their motorbike and sped off, the failure to stop upon reaching the Fulani man’s residence and so the victim raised an alarm.

The suspects went into hiding until about 10 pm when they were seen again, on three different motorbikes on their way to Daboya. They were arrested and sent to the chief’s palace by vigilant community members.

The suspects are therefore in the custody of the Ghana Police to assist in investigations.

Since August 2018, Ghana has been hit by a series of kidnapping and child stealing activities that have reached alarming proportions with the kidnapping of the three Takoradi girls and the two Canadian girls. Although the later have been rescued, the three Takoradi girls are yet to be found.

The Human Rights Reporters Ghana, a Nongovernmental organization has rolled out a critical sensitization project aimed at sensitizing over 100,000 people in Ghana on kidnapping to empower them on information on how to detect and foil kidnapping attempts and remain safe as well.