The Upper West Regional Police Command has successfully apprehended a man suspected of orchestrating a string of murders in the Wa Municipality. Thirty-year-old Sherif Abdulai has confessed to killing 16 people since 2021.
Abdulai was arrested in Adabiya, a suburb of Wa, following weeks of coordinated intelligence operations by law enforcement agencies. His arrest follows the earlier detention this month of 25-year-old Mahamuda Lamin, linked to the recent murder of 55-year-old night watchman Yahaya Issah at Dobile, near the Wa New Market.
Authorities believe both men are responsible for a series of killings targeting mostly private security personnel in the region. Preliminary investigations reveal that the victims were attacked while on duty, sustaining severe head injuries. At the scene of Issah’s murder, police recovered a blood-stained cement block and a knife.
A post-mortem examination conducted at the Upper Regional Hospital confirmed the cause of death as blunt force trauma to the head. Investigators noted that this method was consistent across approximately 15 murder cases recorded in the region since 2021.
In a statement signed by Upper West Regional Police Commander ACP Francis Yiribarie, it was disclosed that Sherif Abdulai, a former convict, confessed that his victims were primarily night watchmen and individuals with mental challenges, whom he targeted during nighttime.
“During questioning, the suspect admitted to killing 16 people in Wa Municipality since 2021, including three mentally challenged persons and two watchmen at Bole, one mentally challenged man in Banda Nkwanta, and one mentally challenged woman in Bamboi,” the statement read.
Further searches recovered a Villaon keypad mobile phone and an X-Base solar-powered portable radio belonging to the late Yahaya Issah, along with a sack containing cooked meat and a pickaxe handle.
There are reports alleging that one of the suspects Sherrif Abdulai cannibalized on his victims, by feasted on their body parts.
Both suspects remain in police custody as investigations continue.
Story by: Elikplim Awuku
