…Smith & Wesson pistol, seven rounds of ammunition retrieved as suspect is arrested at hideout near Ejisu
The Ghana Police Service, has arrested a 72-year-old man suspected of shooting and killing two relatives at NTHC Estate, Sakumono, in the Greater Accra Region, following a financial dispute involving GH¢500,000.
The suspect, identified as Samuel Christopher Osei Anto, was arrested on Sunday, November 1, 2026, at his hideout at Tikrom, near Ejisu, in the Ashanti Region, after allegedly fleeing the scene of the double murder.
The arrest comes three days after the gruesome killing of 57-year-old George Atubiga and his 47-year-old niece, Irene Atubiga, at their residence at Sakumono.
According to the Police, a Smith & Wesson pistol and seven rounds of live ammunition were retrieved from the suspect during the operation.
The Ashanti Regional Police Command, which announced the arrest in a statement dated Monday, November 2, 2026, said the suspect was apprehended following intelligence gathered about his whereabouts.
The statement, signed by Superintendent of Police Godwin Ahianyo, Head of the Public Affairs Unit of the Ashanti Regional Police Command, indicated that the suspect was currently in police custody assisting investigations.
“Acting on intelligence regarding the suspect’s whereabouts, a police team proceeded to his hideout and successfully apprehended him,” the statement said.
It added that the recovered firearm and ammunition had been retained as exhibits for further investigations.
The development follows an earlier statement issued by the Accra Regional Police Command on Friday, October 30, 2026, detailing the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the two relatives.
According to that statement, preliminary investigations suggested that the killings were connected to a financial dispute involving the deceased, George Atuguba, and the suspect.
The Police alleged that George Atuguba had borrowed GH¢500,000 from Samuel Christopher Osei Anto but had failed to repay the money.
The dispute reportedly escalated when the suspect visited the residence of the deceased on the morning of October 30, accompanied by a woman identified as Beatrice Mumuni, to demand repayment.
A misunderstanding allegedly ensued during the encounter, resulting in the suspect opening fire on George Atuguba and his niece, Irene Atuguba.
The Police said the two victims sustained fatal gunshot wounds during the confrontation.
The Sakumono District Police Command received information about the incident and immediately dispatched officers to the residence, where the bodies of the two victims were discovered lying in a pool of blood.
The victims were subsequently rushed to hospital, where they were pronounced dead by a medical officer.
Their bodies were later deposited at the Police Hospital Mortuary for preservation and autopsy.
The initial police statement, signed by Chief Superintendent Juliana Obeng, Head of Public Affairs of the Accra Regional Police Command, indicated that efforts were underway to track down the suspect, who had fled following the incident.
His arrest in the Ashanti Region has now brought an end to the initial manhunt, although investigations into the circumstances surrounding the killings remain ongoing.
The Herald had earlier reported conflicting accounts of the financial dealings that allegedly triggered the deadly confrontation.
While the Police maintained that the dispute involved a GH¢500,000 loan allegedly contracted by George Atuguba, other accounts suggested that Irene Atuguba had been the principal borrower, with her uncle acting as guarantor.
Those accounts further suggested that the outstanding debt had increased to more than GH¢1 million after accumulated interest.
There were also allegations that the dispute had taken a legal turn, with questions reportedly raised about whether the suspect was licensed to engage in moneylending activities.
However, these additional claims have not been independently established, and the Police have yet to clarify the precise financial arrangements between the parties.
The latest statement from the Ashanti Regional Police Command maintains the earlier police account that George Atuguba allegedly borrowed the GH¢500,000 from the suspect.
The arrest also provides investigators with an opportunity to establish the circumstances surrounding the financial transaction, the confrontation at the Sakumono residence and the firearm allegedly used in the killings.
The involvement of Beatrice Mumuni, who was reportedly present when the suspect visited the residence, is another aspect of the incident that may be of interest to investigators.
The Police have not indicated whether she has been questioned or whether any additional arrests are expected.
It is also not yet clear when the suspect will be transferred to Accra or put before a court.
For now, the 72-year-old remains in police custody as investigations continue into the deaths of the two relatives, whose killing has attracted considerable public attention.
The Police have assured the public of their commitment to investigating the matter and bringing those responsible to justice.
