Two arrested in Yidani chief murder investigation as police intensify northern Ghana security operations

The Northern Regional Police Command has made significant progress in the investigation into the murder of the newly enskinned Chief of Yidani, Naa Ntimla Nwenisim, and his son, Ntimla Bilaga, with the arrest of two suspects following a targeted intelligence operation.

Majejiba Magne, 25, and Haruna Nlegle, 34, were apprehended on 26 August after police received credible information that the pair were travelling from Dombine in Gushegu District towards Chereponi. Officers from Gushegu Police coordinated with their Chereponi counterparts to intercept and arrest the suspects, who have since been transferred to Yendi Divisional Command and remanded in custody pending further investigations.

The attack and initial response

The chief and his son were killed on 14 August when three unidentified armed assailants attacked their residence at approximately 3:00 am. According to police accounts, the attackers forced their way into the compound and demanded to be directed to the chief's room. When residents refused, the gunmen fired a shot into a nearby roof before entering the chief's chamber and opening fire on both victims.

A post-mortem examination conducted on 17 August at Tamale Teaching Hospital revealed that both men sustained multiple injuries consistent with shotgun assaults and died from severe injuries and haemorrhagic shock. Five empty cartridges were recovered from the scene.

Following the attack, the Inspector-General of Police deployed a special operations team from Police Headquarters to the region, whilst security patrols were intensified across Yidani and surrounding communities to prevent further violence.

Why it matters for Ghana

The killing of a newly enskinned paramount chief and his son represents an extraordinary breach of security and respect for traditional authority in northern Ghana. Chiefs hold significant cultural and administrative positions within their communities, and attacks on their persons strike at the heart of chieftaincy institutions that have governed Ghanaian societies for centuries.

The swift intelligence-led breakthrough demonstrates the police capacity to respond to high-profile crimes in regions where such incidents risk triggering communal tensions and reprisals. The Northern Region has experienced periodic security challenges, making the successful coordination between Gushegu and Chereponi police divisions a positive indicator of inter-divisional cooperation.

The police are urging residents across Yidani, Dombine, Gushegu, Chereponi and neighbouring areas to provide additional information whilst cautioning the bereaved family and community members against vigilantism or revenge attacks. Authorities have assured the public that credible information will be handled confidentially and that anyone found responsible will face prosecution under Ghanaian law.

Investigations remain ongoing as police work to establish the full circumstances of the murders, identify any additional perpetrators, and uncover the motives behind the attack. The case highlights both the vulnerabilities of security in remote northern communities and the importance of timely intelligence gathering in resolving serious crimes.