Police in the Eastern Region have arrested 3 Persons suspected to be kidnappers in a deep forest Ayisikrom near Nankese on the Koforidua Suhum road.

They were demanding an amount of 40,000 before they will release two persons kidnapped from Tye Nkwanta, a suburb of Koforidua when they unlawfully broke into private residence of a fertish priest Nana Hiamankyene.

According to DSP Ebenezer Tetteh , Eastern Regional Police PRO, police had a call from Okorase near Koforidua from the wife of the Fetish Priest, Evelyn Sarpong to the effect that, a gang of about Eight young men armed with cutlasses, axes and other unfamiliar offensive weapons, on board H10O vehicle attacked his household, broke into his room and made away with his 42 inches Nasco flat screen television set worth GHC 1,800.00, three sound speakers valued GHC 1,500.00 and one Sound power amplifier also valued GHC 800.00. That the suspects caused damage to his sliding glass door and window, and two wooden doors all valued GHC 3,550.00.

They also made away with his cash the sum of GHC 14,000.00. That the suspects again assaulted and kidnapped his son, Eric Amponsah 34 years and his taxi driver by name Enock Addo 26 years. That the suspects also took away his green and Yellow coloured taxi cab with registration number ER 418 - 16.
Information gathered revealed that, the suspects drove through Nankese to an unknown destination.

Upon receipt of the complaint, Police circulated information to all check points to be on the look out for the culprits. The Police had information that the suspects took to Mangoase road. They were pursued but there was no traces.

According to the complainant the kidnappers called on phone and demanded GHC 40,000.00 ransom from him for the release of the victims. The kidnappers forced victim Enock Addo to call his brother to send money for his release. His brother could only sent GHC 700.00, but after the kidnappers received the money they did not release Enock Addo.

On 23/06/2019 at about 6.30 am operatives of RCID and CTU personnel acted upon intelligence and moved to Ayisikrom bush/forest near Nankese in a rescue operation. The kidnappers renewed the demand for more ransom from the complainant.

The ransom demand was reduced to GHC 37,000. The Taxi cab mentioned above was found abandoned in the forest and was retrieved to a safe place. The Police Rescue team employed the assistance of the village folks within Ayisikrom and the surrounding villages during a search in the forest, following a lead that was found when the Taxi cab was retrieved. At about 3.00 pm the search team encountered the eight kidnappers with the victims. The two victims were rescued and two of the kidnappers arrested. The remaining six kidnappers managed to escape due to the terrain in the forest.

The two suspects are Kwadwo Asare 22 years, and Fatawu Lukeman 27 years. Suspect Kwadwo Asare sustained injuries during his arrest by the youth who were part of the search team. Police rushed him to Koforidua Central Hospital and currently on admission for treatment. After the arrest, the suspects led Police to an uncompleted building at the outskirt of Ayisikrom where all the items stolen from the house of the complainant, as mentioned above, were retrieved.

The victims are Eric Amponsah 34 years, and Enock Addo 26 years. According to the two suspects arrested, they were all recruited for that kidnapping operation by their leader they only called "Igboman", who came to Ayisikrom recently. Suspect Fantawu Lukeman is in custody for investigation whiles injured suspect Kwadwo Asare under Police guard at the Central Hospital, Koforidua.

All the exhibits were brought to RCID and retained for investigation. Strenuous efforts are being made to arrest the remaining six fugitive kidnappers and bring the to face the law. Meanwhile, another suspect has been arrested Felix tettey.yaw 33 as third suspect.