The intricate web of a transnational kidnapping operation, targeting two Ghanaian women and orchestrated across Ghana and Nigeria, was unravelled by authorities in May 2025. The case, which began with the disappearance of two women and culminated in the rescue of the victims and the arrest of eight suspects, highlighted the complexities of cross-border crime and the vital role of international collaboration in tackling such offences. The ordeal began when Anastasia Badu Arthur vanished after a routine medical check-up in Hohoe on April 25, 2025. Distressingly, her family received a video confirming her abduction, along with a chilling demand for a GH₵500,000 ransom. Just days later, on April 30, 2025, a similar nightmare unfolded for the family of Evelyn Serwaa Konadu, who also disappeared. They too received a video, showing her bound to a chair, with kidnappers demanding GH₵50,000. The chilling similarities between the two cases – the method of abduction, the use of video as a tool of intimidation, and the demand for ransom – immediately suggested a link and sparked a frantic search for the missing women.
The investigation, led by the Ghana Police Service’s Criminal Investigations Department (CID), swiftly gained momentum after a video of the captured women went viral, triggering public outcry and prompting immediate action. The CID, working in close collaboration with the National Signals Bureau (NSB) and the Nigerian Police Force, embarked on a complex operation to trace the perpetrators and secure the release of the victims. This collaborative effort proved instrumental in locating the women, who were found and rescued in Nigeria on May 1, 2025. The successful rescue marked a significant victory in the fight against transnational crime, demonstrating the effectiveness of joint operations between national law enforcement agencies.
The arrest of eight individuals – three Ghanaians and five Nigerians – further illuminated the intricate workings of the criminal network. Christian Emeka, a Ghanaian national, emerged as a key figure in the operation, revealing the chain of events that led to the kidnappings and subsequent ransom demands. Emeka, who had invited Basil Okonkwo, a Nigerian associate, to Ghana for business ventures, was contacted by Peter Okoye, another Nigerian, who confessed to kidnapping the two Ghanaian women. Okoye exploited Emeka’s mobile money account to receive the ransom payments, highlighting the increasing use of digital financial services in criminal activities.
Further investigation revealed the intricate process through which the kidnappers obtained and utilized SIM cards for their criminal operation. Titus Mbah Awuni, a mobile money agent in Bolgatanga, Ghana, colluded with Abdul Mubariq Zakaria, a telecommunications company employee, to fraudulently register SIM cards. Zakaria provided Mbah Awuni with access to the SIM registration app, enabling him to register cards using stolen Ghanaian identities. These illegally registered SIM cards were then sold to the Nigerian accomplices for GH₵150 each, facilitating the ransom demands and communication within the criminal network. This sophisticated method of acquiring SIM cards underscored the vulnerabilities within the telecommunications sector and the need for robust security measures to prevent their misuse by criminal elements.
The money laundering aspect of the crime revealed further layers of complexity. Emeka confessed to receiving a total of GH₵13,200 in ransom payments through his mobile money account. After deducting GH₵900 for himself and GH₵450 for transaction fees, he transferred the remaining GH₵12,200 to Okoye via a phone number linked to Mahama Manasseh Nii Martey, another accomplice. The ransom money was then converted into Nigerian Naira and deposited into a Nigerian bank account held by Okoye. This intricate money trail, spanning two countries and involving multiple individuals, demonstrated the sophistication of the criminal network and their ability to exploit international financial systems.
The meticulous investigative work of the Ghanaian authorities, combined with the crucial intelligence shared with INTERPOL Nigeria, led to the arrests of the Nigerian suspects – Peter Okoye, Paulinus Chidokwe, and Chinoso Okafor – in Port Harcourt and Onitsha, Nigeria. The arrest of these key players effectively dismantled the criminal network and brought an end to their reign of terror. The complexities of this case, from the initial kidnappings in Ghana to the ransom demands and subsequent arrests in Nigeria, highlighted the importance of international cooperation in combating transnational crime. The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities working diligently to apprehend any remaining suspects and to fully understand the scope and operations of the larger criminal syndicate behind this harrowing ordeal. The case serves as a stark reminder of the evolving nature of crime in the digital age and the need for continuous vigilance and collaboration between nations to protect citizens from such threats.
