The Ashanti Regional Police Command in Ghana has made a significant breakthrough in the case of the kidnapping and murder of Senegalese goalkeeper Cheikh Toure. On September 20, 2026, police arrested two suspects, Salifu Walid, a 32-year-old Nigerien national, and Aziz Wadrago Mane, a 24-year-old Burkinabe national. The arrests were made at their hideout in Banpanase, near Mamponteng in the Ashanti Region. According to the police, preliminary investigations suggest that the two suspects are part of a four-man group involved in the crime.
The police allege that the suspects and their accomplices operated under the guise of football scouting agents. They used online platforms and networking to lure unsuspecting victims into Ghana with promises of football-related opportunities. The suspects allegedly admitted their involvement in the crime during interrogation and disclosed their respective roles in luring Toure into the country. The police did not provide further details on the suspects' motivations or the circumstances surrounding Toure's death.
Cheikh Toure's body was abandoned at the Manhyia District Government Hospital on October 16, 2025, by three unidentified men believed to be foreign nationals. The police launched an investigation to establish the identity of the perpetrators and the motive for the crime. Since then, the police have been working to gather evidence and track down the suspects. The arrest of Walid and Mane marks a significant development in the case.
The police have identified two other suspects, Noukoubri Arzouma Sylviain, alias Prince Pierre, and a foreign national identified as Barry, who are currently on the run. The police believe that Sylviain played a central role in the suspected cross-border operation. The police have intensified the manhunt for the two named accomplices and other persons who may be connected to the crime. The public has been urged to provide any information that may lead to the arrest of the remaining suspects.
The Ashanti Regional Police Command has assured the public that it is making every effort to bring all persons found to have played a role in the kidnapping and murder of Cheikh Toure to justice. The police have been working closely with other law enforcement agencies to ensure that the suspects are brought to face the law. The case has raised concerns about the safety of foreign nationals in Ghana and the need for increased vigilance.
The suspects, Walid and Mane, are currently in police custody and will be processed before the court as investigations continue. The police have not disclosed any further details about the suspects' backgrounds or their alleged roles in the crime. The case is ongoing, and the police are expected to provide further updates as more information becomes available.
The kidnapping and murder of Cheikh Toure have sparked widespread outrage and condemnation in Ghana and beyond. The incident has raised questions about the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies in preventing and investigating crimes. The arrest of the two suspects is a positive development, but the police still have a long way to go in bringing all those responsible to justice.
Key points
- Two suspects, Salifu Walid and Aziz Wadrago Mane, have been arrested in connection with the kidnapping and murder of Senegalese goalkeeper Cheikh Toure.
- The suspects allegedly operated under the guise of football scouting agents and used online platforms to lure unsuspecting victims into Ghana.
- The police are still searching for two other suspects, Noukoubri Arzouma Sylviain and Barry, who are believed to have played a role in the crime.
