Police in the Northern Region are now treating the deaths of three children, aged 3, 5 and 7, whose bodies were found in the locked boot of a vehicle in Tamale on Monday, October 5, 2026, as a murder case after a preliminary autopsy indicated they did not die of natural causes.
The children, Dauda Abdul Aziz, 3, Saani Alsharaf, 5, and Dauda Fadilan, 7, left home at about 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, October 4, to attend Islamic classes but did not return. A community search failed to find them.
Their bodies were discovered at about 5:00 a.m. the next day in the boot of a black Hyundai Tucson with registration number AS 1770-14, which was stuck in mud near the zoo area at Koblimahagu in the Tamale Metropolis.
The owner of the vehicle, a member of the Ghana Immigration Service, has been arrested and taken to Accra to assist with investigations. A toxicology test has been ordered to establish the exact cause of death.
Tamale children deaths now a murder investigation
According to reports by MyJoyOnline and ABC News Ghana, the preliminary autopsy showed the children “did not die of natural causes,” prompting investigators to classify the case as murder.
Investigators are awaiting toxicology results before deciding on the next steps in the case.
How the bodies were found in the car boot
Police said the vehicle owner told them the car had been stuck in the mud at the location for about five days.
A preliminary inspection found that the driver’s door and the rear passenger door behind the driver’s seat were open, while the other doors, including the boot, were locked.
The vehicle has been secured for forensic examination.
IGP deploys special homicide team to Tamale
The Inspector-General of Police has deployed a special team of homicide investigators, crime scene experts and intelligence officers to support the Northern Regional Police Command, according to a press release signed by the Northern Regional Police Commander, DCOP Wisdom Lavoe, and reported by Graphic Online.
Police said “all necessary investigative steps are being taken to establish what led to the deaths.” Official updates are expected through the Ghana Police Service.
Timeline of the Tamale car boot case
- Sunday, October 4, about 8:00 a.m.: The three children leave home for Islamic classes and do not return.
- Sunday into Monday: Community members search for the children without success.
- Monday, October 5, about 5:00 a.m.: Bodies found in the boot of a black Hyundai Tucson (AS 1770-14) near the zoo at Koblimahagu.
- October 5–6: Vehicle owner, a Ghana Immigration Service member, arrested and moved to Accra.
- October 6: Preliminary autopsy indicates the deaths were not natural; case treated as murder; toxicology ordered.
- Tuesday evening, October 6: Investigators meet the family and community.
What it means for the families and Koblimahagu community
On Tuesday evening, the Northern Regional Police Command, the Ghana Immigration Service Regional Command and the investigators deployed by the IGP met the family and community members, MyJoyOnline reported.
The biological parents of the children have been invited to the Regional Police Command to give statements.
The case has drawn national attention, following other recent child deaths that shocked communities, including the Obuasi baby death case.
What happens next in the investigation
The toxicology results are expected to establish the exact cause of death and guide the police on further action.
Forensic examination of the vehicle is ongoing, and the arrested officer remains in police custody in Accra assisting investigations. Police have not announced any charges.
Key details at a glance
- Victims: Dauda Abdul Aziz (3), Saani Alsharaf (5), Dauda Fadilan (7).
- Location: Near the zoo at Koblimahagu, Tamale Metropolis, Northern Region.
- Discovered: About 5:00 a.m., Monday, October 5, 2026.
- Vehicle: Black Hyundai Tucson, registration AS 1770-14.
- Suspect: Vehicle owner, a Ghana Immigration Service member, arrested and moved to Accra.
- Autopsy: Preliminary findings say the children did not die of natural causes.
- Status: Murder investigation; toxicology results pending.
FAQs
What happened to the three children found in a car boot in Tamale?
Three children aged 3, 5 and 7 were found dead in the locked boot of a Hyundai Tucson near the zoo at Koblimahagu, Tamale, on October 5, 2026, a day after they left home for Islamic classes.
Has anyone been arrested over the Tamale children deaths?
Yes. The vehicle owner, a member of the Ghana Immigration Service, has been arrested and taken to Accra to assist police investigations. No charges have been announced.
What did the autopsy on the Tamale children reveal?
A preliminary autopsy indicated the children did not die of natural causes, and police are now treating the case as murder while awaiting toxicology results.
The deaths of Dauda Abdul Aziz, Saani Alsharaf and Dauda Fadilan have moved from an unexplained tragedy to a murder investigation, with a Ghana Immigration Service officer in custody, a special IGP team on the ground and toxicology results now the key to establishing exactly how the three children died.
