Man arrested for trying to smuggle hacksaw blades into police cells in Kasoa

A 42-year-old herbalist, Mohammed Hamidu, has been arrested at Kasoa in the Central Region after allegedly attempting to smuggle hacksaw blades into a police cell in what authorities suspect was a coordinated jailbreak attempt.

The incident occurred on the night of April 14, 2026, at the Kasoa Central Business District Police Station during a routine inspection of items meant for detainees.

According to the Central East Regional Police Command, Hamidu arrived at the station around 8:00 p.m. carrying items he claimed were for a remand prisoner, Cephas Bubune Sisiawor, who is in custody over an alleged robbery case. The items included six plastic bottles of carbonated drinks and a loaf of bread.

As part of standard security checks, officers screened the items before handing them over. Suspicion was raised during the inspection, prompting a more detailed search of the package.

During the search, police discovered two hacksaw blades carefully concealed inside the loaf of bread. Hamidu was immediately arrested and taken into custody to assist with investigations.

The Central East Regional Police Command, in a statement, said: “Preliminary estimations indicated that the remand prisoner had directed the suspect upon an earlier visit to collect the items from an individual he identified as Emmanuel near the Lucky Herbal Clinic at Kasoa.”

Investigators believe the arrangement may have been part of a wider plan to facilitate an escape from custody, with indications that the remand prisoner could have coordinated the delivery through earlier interactions with the suspect.

Police further indicate that Hamidu allegedly received instructions to collect the items from an individual identified only as Emmanuel, who is currently on the run and believed to be operating around the Lucky Herbal Clinic area in Kasoa.

A manhunt has since been launched to arrest the suspected accomplice as investigations continue into the full circumstances of the alleged plot.

The remand prisoner, Cephas Bubune Sisiawor, remains in lawful custody.

Meanwhile, the Central East Regional Police Command has reinforced security at the station, tightening screening procedures for all items brought to detainees.

Authorities say the case points to the need for strict vigilance within detention facilities and have assured the public that investigations are ongoing to establish the full extent of the attempted jailbreak and identify all persons involved.