The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service has dismantled a vehicle robbery syndicate following the arrest of Abubakari Sadick, a convicted fugitive linked to a series of car robberies across multiple regions in Ghana.
According to the CID, the suspect and his accomplices posed as representatives of NGOs and religious organisations. Their strategy involved approaching car rental companies and private drivers, claiming they needed vehicles for missionary or outreach work in northern Ghana. However, once on the journey—often in remote or rural areas—the drivers were attacked and robbed of their vehicles.
In one such case, on 11th November 2022, the suspect rented a Toyota Land Cruiser from a car rental company for alleged missionary work. Near Malzeri, close to Yendi, the driver was tied to a tree, and the vehicle was stolen. A similar operation in January 2023 led to another Toyota Land Cruiser being stolen. In April 2023, a Toyota Vitz was also taken under the same pretence and later sold in Bolgatanga.
Through sustained surveillance and intelligence gathering, Abubakari Sadick was identified as the mastermind behind the operations. A warrant was issued for his arrest, and he was placed on the Police Wanted List, the Immigration Stop List, and flagged with an INTERPOL Red Notice.
In February 2023, police received information that Sadick had been apprehended in Burkina Faso, but he escaped from custody before extradition procedures could be completed.
He was finally re-arrested in Accra on 28th July 2025 through a coordinated operation between the CID’s Anti-Armed Robbery Unit and National Security operatives. Sadick is currently in police custody and assisting with investigations.
Of note, the Cape Coast High Court had earlier sentenced Sadick in absentia to 25 years’ imprisonment with hard labour for a 2021 robbery in Breman Asikuma. He is also implicated in several ongoing car robbery investigations.
The Police Service is calling on car rental operators and other individuals who may have been victims of similar incidents to report to the CID Headquarters in Accra to assist with investigations. Efforts are also ongoing to track down and apprehend his accomplices.
By Peter Quao Adattor
