He killed 23 people, some of whom were believed to be mentally challenged, while others were night watchmen.
His victims were killed in Wa, Bole, Banda Nkwanta and Bamboi. For several years, residents of Wa lived in fear because they did not know the person behind the killings. He eventually confessed to killing all 23 people, pleaded guilty before the Wa High Court and was sentenced to life in prison.
THE KILLINGS IN WA
Between 2021 and 2022, police recorded 15 similar cases in the Upper West Region. Most of the victims were night watchmen attacked while performing their duties.
Four cases were recorded in 2021, while 11 more were recorded in 2022 at different locations in and around Wa. The similarities between the cases caused considerable fear among residents because the person behind them remained unidentified for several years.
THE KILLINGS IN BOLE, BANDA NKWANTA AND BAMBOI
According to the police, he also admitted killing five people in Bole, including three mentally challenged persons and two watchmen.
He further admitted killing one mentally challenged person in Banda Nkwanta and one woman in Bamboi.
This brought the total number of people he admitted killing to 23.
THE CASE THAT LED TO HIS ARREST
On September 21, 2025, 55 year old night watchman Issah Yahaya was found dead at a motor mechanic shop at Dobile, near the Wa New Market.
A postmortem examination reportedly established that he suffered a severe head injury caused by blunt force trauma.
Police first arrested 25 year old Mahamuda Lamin at Dondoli on October 3, 2025. Information obtained during investigations reportedly led officers to another suspect.
With assistance from an assemblyman and some residents of Dondoli, police arrested Shariff Abdulai at Adabiya, a suburb of Wa, on October 6, 2025.
THE EVIDENCE FOUND
During a search, police reportedly found Shariff Abdulai in possession of a mobile phone and solar powered radio identified as belonging to Issah Yahaya.
A follow up search at his alleged hideout, an isolated metal container in a bush near the Wa Airport, reportedly led to the recovery of a sack containing cooked meat, a specially designed cutlass, a bicycle and a pickaxe handle.
The bicycle and cutlass were subsequently identified as belonging to Issah Yahaya.
Shariff Abdulai initially claimed that he bought some of the items from a galamsey site in Bole.
HIS CONFESSION
During interrogation, police said Shariff Abdulai admitted killing 15 people in the Wa Municipality from 2021.
He also allegedly admitted responsibility for additional killings in Bole, Banda Nkwanta and Bamboi.
By the time the case reached the High Court, the official police statement indicated that he had admitted killing 16 people in Wa, five in Bole, one in Banda Nkwanta and one in Bamboi, bringing the total to 23.
HIS TRIAL AND SENTENCE
Following committal proceedings at the District Magistrate Court, Shariff Abdulai appeared before the Wa High Court on March 4, 2026.
He was represented by a lawyer and pleaded guilty to the murder of Issah Yahaya and 22 other people.
Based on his own plea, Justice Osei Wusu Antwi sentenced him to life imprisonment with hard labour.
He was ordered to serve his sentence at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison.
This is the story of Shariff Abdulai, popularly known as “Cristos,” the man who admitted killing 23 people across parts of northern Ghana.
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