The Tamale High Court has sentenced four men to eight years in prison each for their roles in a kidnapping and ransom case in the Northern Region.
The convicts — Haruna Seidu, Osman Sambo, Amadu Aminu and Hoyeefe Amadu — kidnapped a man at Wapuli and demanded money from his family for his release.
Northern Regional Police Commander DCOP Wisdom Lavoe announced the convictions at a press briefing in Tamale on Tuesday.
He said officers from the Northern Regional Police Intelligence Unit arrested the suspects while they were sharing ransom money at Bokpaba on the Yendi–Bimbilla road.
“The accused persons were arrested by the Northern Regional Police Intelligence Unit while sharing the ransom money at Bokpaba on the Yendi–Bimbilla road,” DCOP Lavoe said.
The court found the four men guilty of conspiracy to kidnap, kidnapping, causing harm and threat of death.
Each received an eight-year prison sentence with hard labour. The sentences will run concurrently.
The court also ordered the auction of four motorbikes and four mobile phones recovered during investigations.
Authorities will pay the proceeds into the Consolidated Fund.
The court further directed that GH¢70,010, which formed part of the recovered ransom money, be returned to the complainant’s brother, Buubu Osman.
DCOP Lavoe said police are still investigating other kidnapping incidents in the region.
One of the cases involves the abduction of a boy from Kabulya.
According to police, armed men attacked the home of Laolo Issah, assaulted two family members and kidnapped the victim. The suspects initially demanded GH¢100,000 before reducing the amount to GH¢20,000.
Police later arrested Amadu Abubakari at the Binda barrier after acting on intelligence.
Officers recovered GH¢20,000 in ransom money and an unregistered motorbike from him.
Police said the suspect admitted involvement in the crime and identified other accomplices who remain at large.
The victim, Ali Issah, later arrived at Kpandai Government Hospital with a gunshot wound to the jaw. Medical personnel later transferred him to the Tamale Teaching Hospital for treatment.
In a separate case, kidnappers abducted 26-year-old Yahaya Issahaq on May 25 while he was grazing cattle in the Mion District.
The suspects reportedly demanded GH¢200,000 before reducing the ransom demand to GH¢150,000.
DCOP Lavoe said police used intelligence and digital tracking to investigate the case.
Officers later discovered the victim’s body on May 28 near River Dakar at Kpajie, close to Nakpa.
Police found gunshot wounds on his chest and a chain around his neck.
The Regional Police Commander expressed sympathy to the victim’s family and assured them that police would pursue all those involved.
DCOP Lavoe said the Northern Regional Police Command remains committed to fighting kidnapping and other violent crimes.
He urged members of the public to assist police with credible information that could help ongoing investigations.
Police asked the public to report information through emergency numbers 191 and 18555 or at the nearest police station.
