Police in the Western Region have identified five suspects—four men and one woman—in connection with a suspected kidnapping operation uncovered in Effiakuma New Site, within the Effia-Kwesimintsim Municipality.

The breakthrough follows the dramatic rescue of 25 victims, believed to be Ivorian nationals, from a locked apartment on Sunday, June 1, 2025.

According to investigators, the suspects were identified during an initial interrogation based on information provided by one of the victims, a man in his late twenties who escaped captivity and sought help in the Effiakuma Zongo area. The suspects are currently in police custody as investigations continue.

The case came to light when the escapee, speaking only French, approached a local trader for help. A language barrier prevented immediate assistance until a resident, Abdul Ganiyu, recognized the man’s language—Dyula, commonly spoken in Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, and Mali.

The victim recounted that he and his wife had fallen prey to what appeared to be a recruitment scam. Ganiyu alerted Hamza Mohammed Ameen Adam, Assembly Member for Effiakuma Zongo, who coordinated a swift response with local residents. Guided by the escapee, the group traced the location to an eight-bedroom apartment near the Takoradi Technical University.

Upon arrival, they found the building locked and silent. After gaining entry, they discovered the 25 victims—six of them women—standing weak and visibly traumatized. The rooms were bare, containing only luggage, talismans, and voodoo artifacts. There were no mattresses, and the victims could not say exactly how long they had been held.

The apartment owner remains unidentified, and no neighbors had reported suspicious activity prior to the incident. Police believe the victims were trafficked from Côte d’Ivoire, as several spoke Dyula and one requested to contact his mother in that country.

Assembly Member Hamza Mohammed confirmed that many of the victims appeared malnourished and in shock, prompting him to arrange food and basic care following their rescue.

The five suspects remain in custody, and the Ghana Police Service has launched a full-scale investigation to uncover the scope of the operation and track down any additional perpetrators or accomplices.

The case raises renewed concerns about cross-border human trafficking, fraudulent recruitment schemes, and the urgent need for community vigilance.

Source: 3News