The bodies of three children, identified as Dauda Abdul Aziz (3), Saani Alsharaf (5), and Dauda Fadilan (7), were discovered in the boot of a black Hyundai Tucson at Koblimahagu Zoo in the Tamale Metropolis of the Northern Region. According to the police, the children allegedly left home for Islamic classes at about 8am on Sunday, October 4, 2026, but failed to return. Efforts by community members to locate them were unsuccessful until their bodies were discovered at about 5am on Monday, October 5.
The vehicle, with registration number AS 1770-14, was found stuck in mud on a road leading to the area. Preliminary inspection of the vehicle showed that the driver’s door and the rear passenger door behind the driver’s seat were open, while the other doors, including the boot, were locked. The police said the vehicle belongs to a member of the Ghana Immigration Service, and the owner claimed that the vehicle had been stuck in the mud for the past five days.
The owner of the vehicle has been arrested and transported to Accra to assist with police investigations. The Inspector-General of Police has also deployed a special investigative team to Tamale to support the Northern Regional Police Command. The team comprises homicide investigators, crime scene experts, and intelligence officers. The IGP’s decision to deploy the special team is intended to strengthen the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The police have not yet disclosed the cause of death, but an autopsy is necessary to support the investigation. Authorities have assured the parents that the state will bear any financial costs associated with the autopsy. The police have declined a request by the children’s families to release the bodies for burial in accordance with Islamic customs.
The deployment of the special team is aimed at establishing what happened to the children. The team will work with the Northern Regional Police Command to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths. The police are urging calm and promising to provide updates as the investigation progresses.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety and security of children in the Tamale area. The police are working to determine the circumstances that led to the children’s deaths and to identify any potential suspects. The community is in shock, and residents are calling for increased vigilance and security measures.
The police investigation is ongoing, and further updates are expected to be provided as more information becomes available. The authorities have assured the public that they are doing everything possible to bring the perpetrators to justice and to provide closure to the families of the victims.
Key points
- The vehicle owner has been arrested and is assisting with investigations.
- A special investigative team has been deployed to support the police investigation.
- An autopsy is necessary to determine the cause of death.
