A suspected kidnapping operation has been uncovered in Effiakuma New Site, resulting in the dramatic rescue of 25 individuals and the identification of five key suspects, following the daring escape of one victim.
The rescue operation, carried out near the Takoradi Technical University campus, was sparked on Sunday, June 1, 2025, when a young man in his late twenties escaped from captivity and sought help in the Effiakuma Zongo area.
Though a language barrier initially hampered communication, local resident Abdul Ganiyu identified the escapee’s language as Dyula—spoken in parts of Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, and Mali—and learned that the man and his wife had fallen prey to a recruitment scam.
Assembly Member for Effiakuma Zongo, Hamza Mohammed Ameen Adam, responded swiftly after being contacted by Ganiyu.
A rescue team was assembled, and the escapee led them to an eight-bedroom apartment, where they found victims in distressing conditions—standing, frail, and pale, with no bedding or basic supplies.
Among the 25 rescued were six women, and the rooms contained only luggage, talismans, and voodoo artifacts.
Following initial interrogations, five individuals—four men and one woman—were identified as suspects and are currently in police custody. Police continue investigations, while the owner of the apartment remains unidentified.
Authorities suspect the victims are from neighboring Côte d’Ivoire, as one of them requested to contact his mother in that country.
