Three arrested after gun battle in Northern Region kidnapping rescue

The Northern Regional Police Command says it has rescued a kidnapped man and arrested three suspects believed to be part of a four-man kidnapping gang operating along the Eastern Corridor.

The men — Haruna Seidu, Amidu Bandi and Osman Bandi — were picked up during an intelligence-led operation centred on Bokpaba, a community on the Bimbilla–Yendi road.

Police say the group abducted a 42-year-old man from Wapuli in the Yendi District and demanded a GH¢100,000 ransom from his family as the price for his release.

In a statement issued on Monday, 8 December, the Command said the Regional Police Intelligence Directorate (RPID) deployed a five-member team to Wapuli after receiving information on the kidnapping.

The officers were tasked with mounting surveillance, locating the victim and moving in on the suspects.

According to the police account, the operation built up to an armed confrontation on Friday, 5 December, when officers engaged the suspects in an intense exchange of gunfire.

Despite the shootout, the team was able to extract the victim unharmed and arrest three members of the alleged syndicate.

A fourth suspect escaped during the gunfire and is believed to have sustained gunshot wounds while fleeing, the police said. His name has not yet been released.

Residents in and around Wapuli, Bimbilla and Yendi have been urged to report any suspicious person, particularly anyone with unexplained injuries, or to provide information that could help track down the fugitive.

The three arrested suspects are being held in police custody and are expected to be brought before court in the coming days as investigations continue.

The Northern Regional Police Command reiterated its commitment to tackling violent crime and improving public safety, stressing that community cooperation will be crucial in completing the operation and arresting the remaining suspect.