The Ghana Police Service has launched an investigation into the death of a key suspect in the murder of two young men in Kandau, Upper West Region, just hours after his arrest.
The Upper West Regional Police Command said the Police Professional Standards Bureau (PPSB) is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Abu Tijani, popularly known as Master One, who died on Saturday, July 25, 2026.
The 35-year-old, a youth leader in Wechau, had been on the Police wanted list in connection with the killing of two youth in Kandau on November 23, 2025.
Police said he had evaded arrest after escaping during an operation on May 11, 2026, and subsequently went into hiding.
According to the Police, repeated efforts were made through the Paramount Chief of Wechau and community elders to persuade him to surrender and assist with investigations.
Following his arrest, Abu Tijani allegedly admitted his involvement in the incident during interrogation and provided investigators with information about the movement of the victims’ bodies.
Police said he led officers to an initial burial site about three kilometres west of Wechau towards the Black Volta River. However, a search of the area failed to recover the remains.
Investigators said the suspect later claimed that he and his accomplices had exhumed the bodies and transported them across the Black Volta River into Burkina Faso in an attempt to conceal evidence.
The Police further stated that while escorting the suspect along the Nakore Road to help locate another alleged accomplice, he complained of a severe headache.
Officers immediately transported him to the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Hospital in Wa, where he was admitted at about 1:00 p.m.
Despite receiving medical attention, he was pronounced dead at approximately 4:37 p.m., according to the Police.
His body has since been deposited at the Upper West Regional Hospital mortuary pending an autopsy.
The Upper West Regional Police Command has since engaged traditional authorities and representatives of the Wechau community over the incident.
Regional Police Commander, DCOP Francis Yiribaare, briefed a delegation from the Paramount Chief of Wechau on the circumstances leading to the suspect’s death and appealed for calm while investigations continue.
At the request of the delegation, Police escorted community representatives to the Regional Hospital mortuary to identify and inspect the body before they returned to brief the Paramount Chief and residents of Wechau.
The Police have urged the public to remain calm, refrain from speculation and allow the PPSB investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s death.
The development adds a new twist to the ongoing investigation into the November 2025 Kandau killings, with the outcome of the PPSB probe expected to determine whether any misconduct occurred in relation to the suspect’s arrest, treatment or death.
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