Bolgatanga: Family demands justice for slain resident

The family of 39-year-old Norbert Anamzoya Akupa has called for justice following his murder in Sherigu forest in the Bolgatanga Municipality of the Upper East Region.

The call was made at a press conference addressed by Agana Bawa Rashid on behalf of the family after the burial of the deceased at Tindonmolgo, a suburb of Bolgatanga.

The press engagement followed an emotional burial procession, with a long convoy of mourners accompanying the body from the Upper East Regional Hospital morgue to the family's house.

Speaking to the media, Mr Agana said the family was shocked and devastated by the manner in which Norbert was killed, describing it as cruel, barbaric and inhuman. He stressed that although death is inevitable, such a killing is unacceptable in any civilized society.

According to the family, information gathered so far suggests the killing was deliberate and well planned. They alleged that on the night of January 30, 2026, Norbert was invited by some unidentified persons believed to be police officers to assist in an ongoing case.

The family said Norbert’s phone went off about 45 minutes after he left to meet the alleged officers, and that was the last time he was seen alive. His lifeless body was found the next morning by early commuters along the roadside in the Sherigu forest.

Mr Agana disclosed that investigators retrieved 15 AK 47 bullets and nine shotgun bullets from the scene, making a total of 24. An alleged police face mask was also found at the scene. He added that Norbert’s motorcycle, phones and other belongings were found intact, raising doubts that the killing was a robbery.

“These facts make it difficult for us to believe this was a robbery. Everything points to a targeted killing,” he said.

The family stressed that even if Norbert had been suspected of any wrongdoing, the law required that he be arrested and charged in court, not abducted and killed. They also dismissed social media claims linking him to criminal activities, describing them as false and a calculated attempt to tarnish his image.

The family is demanding a full scale and transparent investigation into the killing and wants the perpetrators identified and prosecuted. They believe the security agencies should be able to trace the bullets used and determine which agency issued them.

When contacted, the Upper East Regional Police Command declined to comment on the specific allegations but confirmed that investigations are ongoing.

Despite this, the family says its resolve to seek justice remains firm and insists that the truth behind the killing of Norbert Anamzoya Akupa must be uncovered.