The suspects at court yesterday

Six persons who allegedly kidnapped two Canadian girls in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region early this month have been remanded in the custody of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) by an Accra High Court.

The suspects were hauled before a criminal division of the court by state prosecutors led by Hilda Craig and Winifred Sarpong – both senior state attorneys – to be remanded, while security agencies conclude their investigations into the matter.

Sampson Aghalor, aka Romeo, Elvis Ojiyorwe, Jeff Omarsar, Yusif Yakubu, Abdul Nasir and Seidu Abubakar,  aka Mba, are facing four counts of conspiracy to kidnap and kidnapping.

An all-Ghanaian security operation led by the National Security last Wednesday rescued the two Canadian ladies who were abducted from the gates of their hostel in a Kumasi suburb last week.

Plan

Presenting the brief fact to the court, Hilda Craig stated that Sampson Aghalor, who is a Nigerian and had been staying in the country for some time now, struck acquaintance with Yusif Yakubu, a Ghanaian and they became good friends.

She said in the course of their friendship, Sampson Aghalor discussed the idea of engaging in kidnapping with Yusif Yakubu, who agreed to assist him in his nefarious activities.

According to the prosecution, Aghalor then assisted Yakubu to procure a pistol.

Recruitment

In a bid to further their plans of kidnappings, Aghalor allegedly went to Nigeria and recruited Elvis Ojiyorwe and Jeff Omarsar, who are also Nigerians to join their group.

The court heard that Aghalor, Elvis Ojiyorwe and Jeff Omarsar, upon their return to Ghana sometime in May, initially stayed at Ashaiman for a while and then proceeded to Kumasi where they met Yusif Yakubu.

The accused persons, according to the police, were demanding $800,000 as ransom before they would release the girls.

Preparations

“While in Kumasi, the four accused persons held discussions on how to proceed with their kidnapping activities. Sampson Aghalor who was the financier of the criminal gang gave Yusif Yakubu money to rent a vehicle and an apartment in a secluded area and two pistols and ammunition for their activities,” Ms. Craig told the court.

She narrated that on June 4, 2019, Yusif Yakubu contacted a car rental company at Aboabo and rented a Toyota Corolla saloon car for GH¢400.00.

Operation

The prosecutor continued, “In the evening of the same day (June 4), the four accused persons on board the vehicle went round in search of victims. Ms. Lauren Patricia Catherine Tilley and Ms. Bailey Jordan Chilly who are Canadians were in Kumasi to participate in a youth programme organised by the Youth Challenge International.”

According to Ms. Craig, the two ladies had boarded an Uber to their hostel at Nhyiaeso behind the Vienna Hotel, but were accosted by the accused persons when they arrived at their destination and alighted from the Uber.

“The accused persons assaulted the victims and forced them into their vehicle amidst shooting. The four accused then sped off with the victims to their hide-out which was in an uncompleted building at Kenyasi Krobo, a suburb of Kumasi,” the court heard.

$800,000.00 Ransom

Mr. Craig also told the court that the accused person had demanded $800,000 from the parents of the victims before they would release them.

She told the court that Elvis Ojiyorwe and Jeff Omarsar were guarding the victims while Sampson Aghalor contacted the parents of the victims to negotiate the ransom.

Assault Impression

The court also heard how in an attempt to create an impression to the families of the victims that they had been seriously tortured, the accused persons smeared blood all over the victims and on the floor of the building.

The suspects also took pictures of blood-soaked victims and forwarded same to their families in Canada to compel them to pay the $800,000 ransom.

Arrest

Ms. Craig further told the court that the suspects were arrested on June 9 by a National Security team led by Col. Michael Opoku from their hide-outs at Kenyasi-Krobo.

She said during the rescue mission, Elvis Ojiyorwe and Jeff Omarsar threatened to kill the victims if the security agents dared them.

“They exchanged fire with the security agents until they were overpowered and arrested. She said Abdul Nasir and Seidu were later arrested after the other four mentioned them as being part of the plan to kidnap,” she said.

She told the court that investigations were still ongoing.

The court presided over by Justice George Buadi remanded them to reappear on July 1.