Leaders and residents of the Wechiau Traditional Area have leveled strong accusations of bias, illegal brutality, and excessive use of force against the Police Command in the Wa West District and Upper West Region following the custody death of prominent youth leader Mr. Tijani Abu, widely known as “Master One”.
In a formal statement issued on July 31, 2026, signed by the Paramount Chief of the Wechiau Traditional Area, Naa Imori Nandong Gomah II, the community voiced deep outrage over what they describe as systematic police misconduct surrounding ongoing communal tensions.
Arrest, Custody Brutality, and Death
According to the traditional council, Mr. Tijani Abu was arrested at his workplace in Wechiau on Saturday, July 25, 2026, by officers of the Wa West District Police Command under the direction of CID Bekaar John Vitus. He was subsequently transferred to the Upper West Regional Police Command in Wa.
Community leaders state that Abu was falsely accused of murder in connection with the recent communal conflict between the Kandeu and Toulu communities. Shortly after his transfer, he allegedly suffered severe physical abuse while in custody, leading to his death.
“The death of Tijani Abu ‘Master One’ while in police custody is unacceptable. It creates fear and erodes public trust in the security agencies that are supposed to protect us,” the press statement emphasized.
Allegations of Police Bias and Shooting of Protesters
The Wechiau Traditional Area accused security forces of displaying clear partiality throughout the conflict. Community leaders reported that over 20 youth from Wechiau and Kandeu have been detained for months without concrete evidence presented against them. Furthermore, despite reporting the burning of the late Toulu Naa’s chief palace to the police, no investigative action has been taken.
Tensions escalated further on July 28, 2026, when local residents took to the streets of Wechiau to demonstrate against Abu’s death. Police under the supervision of the Upper West Regional Police Command allegedly fired live ammunition into the crowd of protesters, injuring three people.
Key Demands and Calls for Intervention
The traditional authority stressed that while they remain committed to peace, they will no longer tolerate systemic harassment or extrajudicial actions.
While condemning all forms of violence and communal conflict, the council said “justice must be done according to law. No one should be arrested, beaten or killed without due process and evidence.”
To restore order and justice, the Wechiau Traditional Area is demanding an immediate, independent investigation into the arrest, transfer, and custody death of Mr. Tijani Abu, a full probe into the conduct of CID Bekaar John Vitus and his team, and legal accountability for all officers found culpable.
Additionally, the Council demands an inquiry into the police shooting that left three protesters injured and the immediate release of Fuseini Musah, who, they alleged, remains detained without evidence.
The council formally called upon top officials, including the President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Minister for the Interior, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), and other political leaders in the Upper West Region and the district to intervene swiftly.
Despite the heightened grief and anger, Naa Imori Nandong Gomah II appealed to the youth of Wechiau and the wider Wa West District to remain calm, avoid taking the law into their own hands, and trust the legal process to deliver “Justice for Master One”.
