Head of Forensics Department at the University of Cape Coast, Dr Richmond Afoakwa, has appealed for public calm as the saga of the three missing young ladies in Takoradi unfolds.

The department that Dr Afoakwa heads trains police detectives in forensic investigation, crime scene management among others.

Speaking on PM Express on Wednesday, following the discovery of a fourth set of suspected human skeletons at the previous hideout of the key suspect in the bizarre story, Dr Afoakwa said until recently, the crime scene component during the training of detectives was not exhaustive.

“Previously, they thought it for about two hours. Recently we have expanded to about three to six weeks,” he revealed appealing for public patience for the police.

The discovery of the suspected human parts has led many to conclude that the girls have been murdered for ritual purposes even though police had given assurance that the girls were alive and safe.

Samuel Wills Udutoek, the key suspect in the possible kidnap-for-ransom crime gone wrong, has been assisting police with investigations in the long-drawn-out matter.

Related: Taadi kidnap suspect always held Bible – Resident expresses shock

He had previously sent police on many wild goose chase, giving them false leads and sometimes refusing to talk as police come under pressure to bring back the missing girls.

Twenty-one-year-old Priscilla Blessing Bentum was reported missing on August 17, 2018. Later on Ruth Love Quayson, 18 years, was reported missing on December 4, 2018. Then on December 21, Priscilla Mantebea Koranchie, also 18 years was reported missing on December 18, 2018.

In court, Samuel admitted that he conspired with one John Oji, 29,  kidnap the three girls.

Photo (above): Udoetuk Wills admitted to kidnapping the girls.

According to a Chief State Attorney, Patience Klinogo, Udoetuk Wills admitted in the presence of an independent witness that he conspired with Oji to kidnap the victims.

Meanwhile, all the skeletal parts have been discovered close to the last residence of the key suspect, prompting critics to wonder why police had not thought of about searching these same locations months earlier. Police have sent the skeletons to their labs for forensic analysis.

Some have even said that like they do in popular crime series like ‘CSI’, police should have cordoned off the key suspect’s last residence as a major crime scene to prevent contamination.

However, Dr Afoakwa explained that “this whole thing, it came as a surprise to all of us because we weren’t ready for it. We hadn’t train detectives to conduct crime scene management and investigations before this thing happened.”

Chief Executive of Security Warehouse, Adam Bonaa, also said on the current affairs programme that aired on the Joy News channel on MultiTV that because kidnap cases are rare in Ghana, police were “learning on the job” with the Takoradi case.

He also urged the public to support the police and not criticise them.

Adam Bonaa also urged the media to be measured in their reportage on the issue.

He said instead of criticising the police, the public must see the discovery of the skeletons as a sign that they were working hard to get the bottom of the matter.

Watch the full show in the video link below.

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