Four Immigration Officers and Two Civilians Charged in Murder of Farmer

In a shocking turn of events, four officers from the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) and two civilians have been remanded into police custody for their alleged involvement in the death of 38-year-old farmer Patrick Banoebuuri.

The incident, which has raised serious concerns about abuse of power, occurred in the Nadowli-Kaleo District of the Upper West Region.

The four GIS officers—Senior Inspector Philip Adjei Boadi, 36; Assistant Immigration Control Officer (AICOII) Abdul Rawuf Abubakar, 22; AICOII Alex Nkrumah, 33; and AICOII Philip Oppong, 28—have been charged with murder, while the two civilians, Pogee Antaa Julius (age unspecified) and Logu Seidu, 49, face charges of abetment of crime, specifically murder.

None of the accused individuals entered a plea during their appearance in court.

The case was heard in the Wa District Court under the presiding judge, Maxwell Maxibriant Titriku.

Following their court appearance, the accused were remanded in police custody, with the next hearing scheduled for March 17, 2025, to allow the prosecution more time to complete its investigation.

According to the prosecution, the events leading to Mr. Banoebuuri’s death unfolded on March 6, 2025, when the farmer was allegedly accused of stealing 18 sheep.

Members of the local community apprehended him, and 14 of the stolen sheep were recovered. However, Banoebuuri was released when he was unable to produce the remaining four sheep.

The following day, on March 7, Pogee Antaa Julius, who serves as the Unit Community Chairman, led a group to Banoebuuri’s home in Peeri-Kaangu to confront him about the missing sheep.

He was handed over to the four immigration officers stationed at a nearby checkpoint.

The officers allegedly took him through a “frog jump” exercise, a form of punishment that led to his death, according to the prosecution’s statement.

The body of Mr. Banoebuuri was later found at the GIS checkpoint in Naro, covered with a tent fabric and placed behind a zinc bathroom.

The deceased’s relative, Richard Banoebuuri, reported the matter to the police, who then arrived at the scene.

The body was transported to the Wa Regional Hospital for preservation and an autopsy.

The community has expressed outrage over the events, calling for justice as investigations continue into this disturbing case of alleged police misconduct and murder.