One Suspect Killed, 27 Arrested as IGP Special Operations Team Battles Armed Gangs in Tamale
A fierce exchange of gunfire erupted during an intelligence-led operation by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Special Operations Team in the Aboabo Forest enclave, Tamale Metropolis, resulting in one suspect fatally wounded and 27 others arrested on charges ranging from armed robbery to illicit drug trafficking.
The operation, involving 50 personnel and eight service vehicles including a Black Maria, commenced with a courtesy call on Sheikh Basha, leader of Masjidul Bayan Mosque, where religious leaders offered prayers and full support for the police mandate to combat robbery, mobile money vendor attacks, rape, and drug peddling.
While advancing through the forested area — a known hideout for criminal gangs — officers came under sudden and sustained gunfire from a group of armed suspects.
“The attack placed the lives of team members in immediate danger,” the police report stated.
Acting in strict accordance with rules of engagement and self-defense protocols, the team returned fire to neutralize the threat. One suspect was struck during the exchange, while the remaining assailants fled with their weapons as reinforcements arrived.
Officers immediately rendered first aid to the injured suspect and rushed him to the Tamale Teaching Hospital. Upon arrival, the attending medical officer pronounced him dead. The body has been deposited at the hospital mortuary for preservation and autopsy.
“The confrontation confirmed earlier intelligence that criminal elements in the area were heavily armed and prepared to violently resist arrest,” the report added.
Prior to the Aboabo operation, the team acted on intelligence and raided a house in Sanzhirigu suspected of being a hub for the sale and consumption of illicit drugs.
Five individuals were arrested on the premises. Police recovered:
Large quantities of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp
Several bottles of Koffex syrup (commonly abused as a narcotic)
Operational Conduct and Community Support
The police commended the team’s discipline, tactical coordination, and adherence to protocol throughout the high-risk operation.
“Their professionalism, even under armed resistance, reinforces public confidence in efforts to dismantle violent criminal networks in Tamale,” the report concluded.
The operation forms part of a broader nationwide crackdown on organized crime and drug-related activities threatening national security.
