Upper West Region is breathing a sigh of relief following the arrest of two prime suspects believed to be behind the wave of serial killings that has terrorised the area in recent years.
For several years, Wa has witnessed a disturbing string of gruesome murders, most of the victims being private security guards found dead at their duty posts. Many were discovered with deep wounds, mutilated bodies, or buried in shallow graves. Others simply vanished without a trace, fuelling fears of ritual motives and leaving the community shrouded in anxiety.
Since 2021, these killings have sent shockwaves through the municipality, forcing many night watchmen to abandon their jobs and compelling residents to remain indoors after dark. The fear and uncertainty have crippled nightlife and heightened calls for urgent police action.
Community anger has grown over what many perceived as a slow response by authorities. Youth groups and civil society organisations have staged protests, demanding justice and transparency. Traditional leaders, including the Wa Naa, have condemned the atrocities and called for intensified police patrols, better street lighting, and stronger community vigilance.
However, in a major breakthrough, the Upper West Regional Police Command announced on October 8, 2025, that two suspects had been arrested. One of them, identified as Sherif Abdulai, allegedly confessed to murdering several victims over the past two years. The second suspect, Mahamuda Lamin, was also arrested to assist with investigations. According to police sources, Abdulai provided chilling details about how his victims were killed and where some of their remains were hidden.
Regional Police Commander assured residents that the investigations would be thorough and that every effort would be made to restore lasting peace and security in Wa and the surrounding communities that have lived in fear for years.
In 2022, the Ghana Police Service had placed a GH₵100,000 bounty on information leading to the arrest of the culprits, but the killings continued. Just last month, another night watchman, Issah Yahaya, popularly known as “Soldier,” was found murdered in Dobile, a suburb of Wa. His skull had been smashed, and a knife was left on his chest, a grim reminder that the killers were still at large.
Now, with the recent arrests, residents are hopeful that justice is finally within reach. Security experts and community leaders are urging a comprehensive approach to ending the menace, one that combines improved community policing, intelligence sharing, installation of CCTV cameras, and the speedy prosecution of offenders.
The serial killings in Wa have become one of Ghana’s most unsettling unsolved security crises in recent memory. As investigations continue, residents yearn not just for arrests, but for justice, closure, and the restoration of peace in a municipality that has endured far too many nights of terror.
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