The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Special Operations Team led by DSP Bawah Abdul Jalil
The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Special Operations Team, has arrested one Ibrahim Abdul Rashid, a suspected armed robber and firearms dealers at Banvum, a suburb of Tamale in the Northern Region.
The suspect was subsequently transported to the Regional Command for detention, pending further investigations and possible prosecution.
A police report sighted by DAILY GUIDE, indicated that on February 3, 2026, intelligence intercepted from a source regarding a male adult resident of Banvum, believed to be an armed robber actively involved in the sale of firearms and ammunition, was in possession of three (3) AK-47 assault rifles and had expressed willingness to sell two (2) of the weapons.
Acting on this information, operatives of the IGP Special Operations Team, operating in an undercover capacity, engaged the suspect under the pretext of being prospective buyers. Following sustained engagement, negotiations, and bargaining primarily intended to facilitate surveillance, arrest, and recovery of the weapons, an agreement was reached for the sale of two (2) AK-47 rifles at a total cost of GH¢ 84,000.
Consequently, four (4) personnel of the IGP Special Operations Team met the suspect at his place of abode at Banvum to finalise payment, retrieve the firearms, and effect the arrest of the suspect.
Upon receipt of the agreed amount, the suspect reneged on the initial agreement to immediately hand over the weapons.
The report said the suspect claimed he needed to consult his brother and retrieve the rifles from a friend, insisting that this process be carried out in the absence of the team.
Given the suspicious nature of this sudden change and the high risk of losing both the suspect and the firearms, the team lawfully arrested the suspect, and, during preliminary questioning, the suspect disclosed that the rifles were supplied to him by a man located at the Banvum Chief’s Palace, and that they had been engaged in the trading of firearms and ammunition for a considerable period.
Following the arrest, a hostile mob suddenly gathered from within the vicinity and the Banvum Chief’s Palace. Some members of the mob were identified as masons working at the palace, who abandoned their work and violently confronted the team.
The mob unlawfully obstructed the officers in the execution of their lawful duties, assaulted personnel, and subjected them to physical attacks and beatings, thereby placing the lives of officers at serious risk. Due to the team’s numerical disadvantage, the situation became highly volatile.
The Team Commander, DSP Bawah Abdul Jalil, was immediately contacted, and reinforcement was promptly deployed. Upon the arrival of additional personnel, the situation was brought under control and calm was restored within the area.
A search conducted on the suspect after his arrest led to the retrieval of videos of the firearms stored on his mobile phone, which corroborated earlier intelligence and visual materials previously obtained from the source.
Following these developments, the Command and members of the team paid a visit to the Chief of Banvum. The Team Commander, DSP Bawah Abdul Jalil, comprehensively briefed the chief on the rationale behind the team’s presence at his jurisdiction, the arrest, the mob attack on police officers, and the allegations involving a young man operating from within the palace environment.
The chief responded with wisdom and maturity, expressed concern over the incident, and pledged his full cooperation and support to the IGP Special Operations Team in addressing the matter and ensuring cooperation throughout the investigation.
Meanwhile, the IGP Special Operations Team has intensified intelligence-led operations and put in place additional operational measures aimed at retrieving the firearms, identifying accomplices, and dismantling the suspected network involved in the illegal trafficking of weapons and ammunition within the Tamale Metropolis.
The operation, though confronted with significant challenges, particularly the violent obstruction and assault on police officers by a mob, was successfully managed through timely reinforcement, tactical coordination, and professional restraint.
The incident highlights the increasing boldness of criminal elements and their collaborators, as well as the grave risks faced by officers in the lawful discharge of their duties.
Despite the attack, the IGP Special Operations Team demonstrated resilience, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to duty. The arrest of a suspect believed to be an armed robber, recovery of critical digital evidence, identification of a suspected supplier, and cooperation secured from traditional authority collectively represent significant progress in addressing the threat of illicit firearms and armed criminality within the Tamale Metropolis.
DSP Bawah Abdul Jalil, has assured that his team remains resolute in its mandate to protect lives and property and to ensure that all persons who obstruct public officers or engage in criminal activities are brought to justice.
FROM Eric Kombat, Tamale