Ghana police have arrested eight men accused of brutally beating a 21-year-old man during an initiation into an internet fraud gang that posed as soldiers in Yemen to solicit money online. The suspects were taken into custody on October 4, 2026, in Kotokrom, Sunyani West Municipality, Bono Region, after officers responded to a distress call at about 4:30 p.m. reporting an attack on a man.
Victim Found with Marks of Assault
The victim, identified as Godstime Umukoro, was found with multiple marks of assault at the scene. The Bono Regional Police Command confirmed that eight suspects were arrested at the location. The suspects are Peter Mbam, 24; Godwin Moses, 26; Humble Oweifah, 18; Osas Ogbemudia, 30; Samuel Aisosa, 22; Ashile Godbess, 24; Alexander Uyuo, 30; and Patrick Romans, 25.
According to investigators, the suspects told police that the beating was part of the process of admitting Umukoro into their internet fraud operation. They reportedly claimed that they had been subjected to similar treatment when they joined the group.
Cross-Border Connection and Fraud Scheme
The police investigation also pointed to a man identified as Nwachukwu King Augustine, whom the command described as the group's chairman. Preliminary findings indicated that he brought the suspects from Nigeria to Ghana, although the police statement did not clarify whether he had been arrested.
The alleged fraud scheme involved using photographs of foreign military personnel downloaded from the internet. According to police, members of the group posed as soldiers serving on the front lines in Yemen and used online conversations to persuade their targets to send money. Payments were allegedly channelled into an account belonging to their leader.
Wider Context of Cybercrime in Ghana
Police have not disclosed the number of alleged victims, the amount of money involved, or whether the suspects have been formally charged. The case comes amid wider concerns about online fraud in Ghana. Recent data from the country’s Cyber Security Authority highlights the scale of the problem, with online fraud accounting for 47% of all cybercrime complaints received between January and July 2026.
The financial toll of these activities has also been significant. During an earlier nine-month period, between January and September 2025, the authority recorded GH¢12.87 million in losses specifically linked to online fraud. Total reported cybercrime losses for that same period exceeded GH¢19 million—an increase of about 17% compared with the first nine months of 2024, according to figures reported by News Ghana.
Those national figures do not establish the scale or financial impact of the specific operation allegedly run by the eight suspects. The investigation remains ongoing, with police yet to confirm formal charges or further details on the alleged leader's arrest.
