The Western Regional Police Command has arrested five suspects in connection with the murder of one John Abban, brother of the chief of Butre and Asemkor, following a violent chieftaincy dispute in Asemkor, in the Ahanta West District.
According to a statement issued by the Regional Police Command, the incident occurred on October 6, 2025 when the deceased was attacked and murdered amid tensions arising from a chieftaincy disagreement within the community.
The suspects reportedly fled the town immediately after the incident and went into hiding.
However, through sustained intelligence-led operations, police managed to track them down in separate operations across two regions.
On October 15, 2025 the Western Regional Police Intelligence Directorate arrested Kennedy Abor, alias Abongo (30), Kojo Attah Panyi (20) and Joseph Basses (30) at their hideout in Funko near Takoradi.
Two days later, on October 17, 2025 a joint team comprising officers from the Western and Accra Regional Intelligence Directorates apprehended the two main suspects — Abraham Cudjoe, alias Yalle (39) and Ekow Paintsil (45) — at Afuaman Ayigbe Town in the Ga West Municipality of the Greater Accra Region.
Police say all five suspects are currently in custody assisting with investigations and will be put before court in due course.
The arrest of the five suspects comes exactly a week after the Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson and security capos, together with the president of the Western Regional House of Chiefs (WRHC) stormed Asemko and ordered the police to arrest the perpetrators behind the crime.
Now, what is not known is whether those who torched down houses in Asemko in retaliation of the attack on the Butre chief have also been arrested.
It would be recalled that following the attack on the Butre Chief, Butre residents allegedly mobilised and torched down houses and shops in Asemko in retaliation.
Due to the attack, resident mostly women and children fled the village and most rendered homeless.
The murder of John Abban, most especially, appears to have deepened tensions at Asemkor and its surrounding communities, which have been grappling with a long-standing chieftaincy dispute.
The killing reportedly triggered fear and unease among residents, prompting an intensified security presence in the area.
Police have assured the public of their commitment to ensuring justice for the deceased and restoring calm to the community.
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