Kusasi Chiefs applaud police breakthrough in Naba Azimbe murder case

The Ashanti Kusasi Chiefs and Elders have hailed recent police arrests in connection with the killing of their late leader, Naba Maliki Azimbe, describing the development as a decisive step toward justice.

At a press briefing in Kumasi, spokesperson John Ndago announced that three men, Jamil Usman, Suleman Yasir Arafat, and Ashiadu Sumbeida, are now in custody after months of painstaking investigation. He said the detentions have restored hope among Kusasi communities at home and abroad, who have been demanding accountability since the chief was murdered at his Asawase residence on 22 July 2025.

Ndago praised the Inspector-General of Police and the Ashanti Regional Command for their leadership, singling out DCOP Joseph Hammond and his team for what he called their “unwavering commitment to justice.” He noted, however, that one suspect, Illiasu, known locally as Abodom, remains at large, and urged the police to intensify efforts to bring him before the courts.

The chiefs stressed that arrests alone are not enough. They are calling for a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the killing, as well as protection for witnesses who may be vulnerable during the trial process. They also expressed gratitude to REGSEC, DISEC, the National Peace Council, and members of the public, including some Mamprusi individuals, whose intelligence aided the breakthrough.

The case, which has stirred tension across Kusasi communities, is now set to move into the courtroom. The suspects are scheduled to appear before the Asokore Mampong District Court on Friday, March 27, 2026. The chiefs ended their statement with a prayer for their late leader and a renewed demand for “prompt, impartial, and unequivocal justice.”