Eight kidnappers in custody for the abduction of two Canadians

Accra, June 12, GNA – Eight suspects
of which five Ghanaians and three Nigerians are in custody to help
investigations into the recent abduction of two Canadian women.

The suspects were arrested in Kenyase, a
suburb of Kumasi, at 12.15 pm on Wednesday, 12 June, by a joint meeting
security forces, including the Office of National Investigations, the
Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service, Defense Intelligence and
the SWAT team of the police.

Ms. Lauren Patricia Catherine Tilley, 19, and
Ms. Bailey Jordan Chitly, 20, both Canadian Volunteers
with Youth Challenge International, a charity, were kidnapped by
unknown people in Ahodwo, a suburb of Kumasi, in the Ashanti region, the
Tuesday, June 4th of this year.

Mr. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Minister of
Information, which held a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, to update
public about the rescue of the two Canadian women, said the necessary legal measures
the protocols would be followed to prosecute the suspects.

He said that the special operation leading to the
arrest of the suspects took 25 minutes with gunfire between the
security forces and suspects, resulting in minor injuries to one of the
the suspects.

He said that the two Canadian women had been
stolen in Accra and be badisted by doctors and psychologists for
undergo a medical examination and evaluation after their traumatic experience.

The minister said that the arrest had been carried out
by Ghanaian security guards without any foreign badistance.

He urged all media commentators and
refrain from speculation and be cautious in this regard
so as not to jeopardize similar operations in progress.

He said that no ransom was mentioned or discussed
throughout the operation leading to the arrest.

Mr. Oppong Nkrumah said that there was
anti-terrorism plan to raise public awareness and some reading materials would be
be distributed to the media to help raise awareness and educate the public.

He urged Ghanaians to be concerned about security
and report all suspicious characters in their communities to security
agencies for quick action.

The minister also confirmed the arrest of
A suspect involved in the Takoradi kidnapping in Togo and would be soon
brought before the court to be prosecuted.

He stated that a recent meeting held by the
National security officers concluded that there was no threat to the
the security of the country and urged all Ghanaians and foreigners to go on their
normal life without fear or panic.

GNA