The Ghana Police Service says on its official Facebook page that it has arrested a man suspected of being linked to the death of University of Cape Coast (UCC) student Innocentia Atsufui Avinu.
The suspect, identified as 39-year-old Michael Mensah, was arrested on Sunday evening at the Pedu Lorry Station in Cape Coast by the Inspector-General of Police's Cyber Vetting and Enforcement Team following what authorities described as intelligence-driven operations.
Police investigations suggest that Avinu, a 20-year-old Level 200 Bachelor of Commerce (Human Resource) student, was last seen on the evening of June 11 after leaving her hostel enclave at UCC. Investigators believe she was picked up by Mensah from Ayensu Plaza and later taken to Hutchland Beach.
Her disappearance triggered concern among relatives and friends after she failed to return home that night. The following morning, residents discovered a body washed ashore at Hutchland Beach near Duakor along the Cape Coast–Takoradi highway and alerted authorities.
The Cape Coast District Police Command subsequently opened an investigation while appealing to the public for assistance in identifying the deceased. The breakthrough came after Avinu's roommate reported her missing and provided officers with a photograph. Family members later visited the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital mortuary, where they confirmed her identity.
The deceased, who lived in a private hostel at Amamoma near the university, hailed from Dzodze in the Volta Region.
As public interest in the case grew, police moved to dispel rumours circulating on social media that parts of the student's body had been removed. The Central Regional Police Command stated that an initial examination conducted in the presence of relatives revealed no visible signs of assault and found no evidence to support claims of organ harvesting.
The family has also condemned the circulation of such claims and urged the public to stop sharing graphic images of the deceased.
The case has drawn nationwide attention, prompting Minister for Education Haruna Iddrisu to call for a thorough investigation. UCC has since launched an internal inquiry and made counselling services available to students affected by the incident.
Police say investigations remain ongoing, while a post-mortem examination is expected to establish the exact cause of death.
Some of the dumbest, to my mind are very dangerous and evil people. They always ignore side of the fact that they can be caught after committing their heinous crimes.
