Tamale / Yendi — December 8, 2025
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Special Operations Team has intensified security operations in the Northern Region, recording a notable improvement in safety within the Tamale Metropolis and the Yendi Municipality following a high-profile deployment.
As part of the operation, a 52-member team led by DSP Karim Mahama and ASP Bawah Abdul Jalil paid a courtesy call on the administration of the University for Development Studies (UDS), Dungu Campus.
The engagement formed part of ongoing efforts to dismantle criminal networks, prevent violent crime, and restore public confidence in the region.
Eight service vehicles, including a Black Maria, were deployed for the operation.
At UDS, the team was received by Professor Mohammed Ibrahim Gunu, Dean of the Faculty of Education, together with lecturers from various faculties.
University authorities commended the Special Operations Team for what they described as an unprecedented level of sustained security intervention in the area.
According to the university administration, no robbery incidents have been recorded within the UDS enclave since the team commenced operations, marking a significant turnaround in a community previously affected by recurrent attacks.
They noted that the visible police presence has enhanced safety, improved the academic environment, and boosted peace of mind among students and staff.
The Special Operations Team briefed the university leadership on its regional mandate, while Professor Gunu urged the command to engage the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) to ensure the continuity of security measures after the team’s eventual exit.
In response, the team assured management that a comprehensive report would be submitted to REGSEC to sustain the gains made.
Following the UDS engagement, the team proceeded to the Yendi Municipality to continue operations aimed at clamping down on suspected criminal gangs involved in robbery, drug peddling and abuse, sexual violence, and the unlawful possession of weapons.
En route, the team paid a courtesy call on His Royal Highness Alhassan Mahama Tipariga, Overlord of the Mion Traditional Area, who expressed gratitude and relief over the operation, citing growing insecurity along the Mion–Yendi corridor. He offered his blessings and encouraged decisive action.
In Yendi, the team was welcomed by the Kuga Naa, Abdullai Adam II, the highest-ranking kingmaker in Dagbon.
Describing the deployment as an answer to long-standing prayers, the Kuga Naa raised concern about the rising incidence of drug peddling, youth-related crime, robberies, and armed assaults on road users, and pledged his full support.
The delegation later visited the Gbewaa Palace, where the Overlord of Dagbon, His Royal Highness Yaa-Naa Abukari Mahama II, and his elders lauded the Ghana Police Service for responding to the security concerns of the people and assured the team of traditional authority support.
Across the palaces visited, traditional leaders noted that the mere presence of the police had begun to deter criminal gangs, an observation later confirmed during operations, as several known hotspots appeared unusually quiet and deserted.
The team subsequently commenced intensive patrols and intelligence-led searches in identified robbery hotspots, suspected drug dens, and areas linked to violent crime.
Many suspected criminal elements were believed to have fled the municipality upon learning of the team’s arrival.
In one targeted operation, police searched the residence of Iddris Abdul Wasiu, a suspect believed to be in unlawful possession of weapons.
Although the suspect was not found, officers retrieved 38 AAA live cartridges and a Ghana Army uniform without a name tag.
The exhibits have been handed over to the Yendi District Charge Office for safekeeping and further investigation. Efforts to trace and arrest the suspect are ongoing.
Additional searches targeting suspected drug peddlers did not yield exhibits of police interest, with intelligence suggesting that suspects had cleared their rooms immediately after news of the deployment broke.
The team also mounted snap motorbike checks at strategic points in Yendi, focusing on unregistered motorbikes reportedly used in robberies and snatching incidents.
One male rider who refused to stop when signaled was pursued, arrested, and detained at the Yendi District Charge Office for further investigations.
No major incident was recorded during the operation. Police say the general calm observed in previously notorious areas indicates that the deployment has significantly disrupted criminal networks and displaced suspected offenders.
Community members and traditional leaders have expressed strong support for the operation and renewed hope for sustained peace and security.
The IGP Special Operations Team says it remains committed to restoring and maintaining law, order, and public safety in the Yendi Municipality and across the Northern Region, with operations set to continue until all criminal elements are brought to book.
Report By: Robicon Mornahson