Youth groups in Tamale have expressed outrage over the reported withdrawal of the Inspector General of Police’s (IGP) Special Operations Team, which has been at the forefront of efforts to combat the growing drug menace in the Northern Region.
The protesters, angered by reports that the IGP had directed the task force—popularly known as the “Black Maria”—to halt its operations, fear that the withdrawal could undermine the fight against drug abuse and trafficking in the region.
According to the youth, the team had played a crucial role in curbing the spread of illicit drugs among young people in Tamale and surrounding communities.
As part of their protest on Thursday night, March 5, 2026, the demonstrators visited traditional rulers and religious leaders in the city to express their displeasure and seek their intervention to ensure the team remains in the region.
They also called on the Mayor of Tamale, Abu Takoro, at his residence in Lamashegu, urging him to intervene and use his office to help reverse the decision.
Earlier, the youth had gathered at the Global Dream Hotel, where the Special Operations Team was lodged, to show appreciation for their work and to openly oppose their removal from the city.
“There is no doubt that the presence of this team has helped curb the spread of drugs among our youth. Their withdrawal is worrying, and we call on authorities to reconsider this decision,” one protester told Channel One News.
Unconfirmed reports have also circulated that a powerful politician in the Northern Region may have influenced the decision due to dissatisfaction with the team’s operations.
The protest has dominated social media discussions since Thursday evening, with many insisting that the Special Operations Team should remain in Tamale to continue supporting local authorities in tackling the region’s escalating drug problem.
Channel One News understands that the team departed Tamale in the early hours of Friday, March 6, 2026, in compliance with directives from the Inspector-General of Police.
