The Northern Regional Police Intelligence Directorate (PID) has recorded a breakthrough in its ongoing investigations into a kidnapping syndicate operating in Wapuli, with the arrest of a key suspect after weeks of sustained surveillance and intelligence gathering.

The case dates back to December 6, 2025, when PID officers successfully rescued a 42-year-old man who had been abducted by the syndicate in Wapuli.

The rescue operation led to the arrest of three suspects, believed to be part of a four-member gang.

The victim sustained serious injuries during captivity, while the kidnappers managed to collect GH¢90,000 out of a demanded GH¢100,000 as ransom, of which police retrieved GH¢70,000.

Despite the initial arrests, police intensified their operations to track down the remaining accomplice, whom investigators identified as a central figure in the syndicate.

According to police, the manhunt involved continuous intelligence-led operations across parts of the Northern Region.

That effort paid off in the early hours of Tuesday, January 20, 2026, when officers apprehended the suspect, Hoyeefe Amadu, from his hideout in a village about 10 kilometres from the outskirts of Watugu, a suburb of Gushegu.

Confirming the arrest, the Northern Regional Police Public Relations Officer said the suspect was picked up at about 1:30 am following precise intelligence.

“The arrest of this key suspect underscores our commitment to ensuring that all persons involved in this heinous crime are brought to justice,” the statement, signed by Chief Inspector Alhassan Luckman Niendow, said.

He added that the three earlier suspects have been remanded into prison custody and are expected to reappear in court, while investigations continue to fully dismantle the kidnapping syndicate.