A high-intensity security operation in Tamale has resulted in the arrest of 16 suspects after weeks of rising criminal incidents that left residents, students, and mobile money vendors on edge. The Police Special Operations Unit, acting on the instructions of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), launched the sweep in response to mounting concerns from the public.
The suspects — made up of nine men and seven women — were picked up during an intelligence-led raid on a hideout located at Nyohini, one of the suburbs identified as a hotspot for criminal activity. The crackdown follows a surge in offences including armed robbery, violent attacks on mobile money operators, stabbings, break-ins involving stolen laptops and other valuables, as well as the distribution of hard drugs such as tramadol and a substance known locally as “red.”
Civil society organisations and influential community members had earlier appealed to the IGP after the security situation in the Northern Regional capital deteriorated. Their petition prompted the deployment of the Special Operations Unit to reinforce the local police command and restore order.
For weeks, the team has been stationed in the region, gathering intelligence and mapping out criminal networks. Security officials say they now have a solid understanding of how these groups operate and have intensified surveillance across multiple communities.
The suspects arrested in the recent operation are being held in custody and will be taken through the court process. Police have issued a strong warning to individuals engaged in criminal activities, making it clear that security personnel intend to pursue every offender regardless of where they attempt to hide.
Residents say persistent attacks have created widespread anxiety, with many mobile money providers shutting their kiosks earlier than usual to avoid becoming targets. The police have assured the public that the crackdown will continue until confidence is fully restored and the city becomes safe again.
