In a harrowing ordeal that unfolded in Afienya, a foreign national identified as Frederikus narrowly escaped after being held hostage by a group of accused individuals who demanded a ransom of 15,000 Euros for his release. The Ghana Police Service intervened just in time to rescue Frederikus from his captors, who had locked him in a room and threatened him at gunpoint.
According to the prosecution’s account, Frederikus arrived in Ghana on October 19, 2024, and was met at the airport by two men identified as Amewonye and Nuodio. They escorted him to Alexis Lodge at Afienya, where he initially stayed. The next day, the two men brought Frederikus to Amewonye’s residence, which was meant to be his accommodation for the duration of his stay in the country.
However, by October 20, 2024, Frederikus became alarmed by the suspicious behavior of Amewonye and Nuodio. Sensing danger, he expressed his desire to return to his home country. In a shocking turn of events, Amewonye reacted by locking Frederikus in his room and enlisting the help of other accused individuals to kidnap him. They demanded an initial ransom of 15,000 Euros in exchange for his freedom.
Fearing for his safety, Frederikus began negotiating with the accused, excluding Amewonye. He managed to lower the ransom demand to 5,000 Euros, but the kidnappers insisted on a higher amount of 8,000 Euros. During these negotiations, Nuodio provided Frederikus with bank account details to facilitate the transfer of the ransom.
When Frederikus delayed the payment, four of the accused, armed with guns and excluding Amewonye, forced him to a Stanbic Bank ATM at Mataheko. There, under duress, he was made to withdraw GH₵6,000 as part of the ransom. Meanwhile, they continued to wait for the 8,000 Euros to be transferred into their account.
Despite the life-threatening situation, Frederikus was able to make a distress call to the police while at the ATM. Acting swiftly, the police arrived at the scene, rescuing Frederikus and apprehending the kidnappers. During interrogation, the accused admitted to the offenses.
The case has drawn significant attention, as the Ghana Police Service’s rapid response prevented what could have been a far worse outcome. The accused individuals are now in police custody and will face legal proceedings for their involvement in the kidnapping and extortion attempt.
This incident serves as a reminder of the need for vigilance and quick police action in handling criminal activities, ensuring the safety of both locals and foreign nationals in Ghana.