The Ghanaian police have arrested two foreign nationals in connection with the alleged kidnapping and murder of Senegalese goalkeeper Cheikh Toure. The suspects, identified as 32-year-old Nigerien national Salifu Walid and 24-year-old Burkinabe Aziz Wadrago Mane, were arrested on September 20 at a hideout in Bampenase, near Mamponteng, in the Ashanti Region. According to the police, the arrests were made by the Anti-Armed Robbery Unit (AARU) of the Police Headquarters, working with the Police Intelligence Directorate (PID) in the Ashanti Region.
Cheikh Toure's body was reportedly abandoned at the Manhyia District Government Hospital in Kumasi on October 16, 2025, by three unidentified men believed to be foreign nationals. The police have been investigating Toure's death for months, and the arrest of Walid and Mane is a significant breakthrough in the case. The two suspects have admitted during interrogation that they played roles in luring Toure to Ghana and allegedly disclosed the involvement of another suspect, Noukoubri Arzouma Sylviain, alias Prince Pierre.
According to the police, Walid and Mane were members of a four-man group allegedly operating under the cover of football scouting agents. The group allegedly used online platforms and personal contacts to attract unsuspecting individuals to Ghana with promises of football opportunities. The police believe that the group may have been involved in other similar cases, and investigations are ongoing to establish the full extent of their operations.
The police have identified another suspect, Barry, who is also being sought in connection with the case. Sylviain, alias Prince Pierre, is currently wanted by the police and is believed to have played a key role in the alleged cross-border operation. The Ashanti Regional Police Command has intensified efforts to track down the two suspects still at large and identify anyone else linked to the alleged crime.
The police have not yet disclosed how Toure was allegedly kidnapped or the circumstances surrounding his death, as investigations continue to establish the full details of the case. However, the arrest of Walid and Mane has provided a significant lead in the investigation, and the police are hopeful that they will be able to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Walid and Mane remain in police custody and are expected to be put before court as investigations continue. The police have assured the public that they will do everything in their power to bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice and provide closure to Toure's family and friends.
The case has raised concerns about the safety of foreign nationals in Ghana and the need for increased vigilance and cooperation between law enforcement agencies to prevent and investigate crimes. The police have urged the public to provide any information that may help in the investigation and to report any suspicious activities to the authorities.
Key points
- Two foreign nationals, a Nigerien and a Burkinabe, have been arrested in Ghana for alleged kidnapping and murder of Senegalese goalkeeper Cheikh Toure.
- The suspects, Salifu Walid and Aziz Wadrago Mane, were arrested on September 20 at a hideout in Bampenase, near Mamponteng, in the Ashanti Region.
- The police believe that the group may have been involved in other similar cases, and investigations are ongoing to establish the full extent of their operations.
